Oviri Kelvin, Sports Editor, Abuja
Stanley Eguma, coach of Rivers United said it is too early to project Rivers United as title contenders ascribing the contest as a marathon race.
Eguma after the 2-1 win against Nasarawa United on MatchDay 15 clash at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, plays down the rumbles surrounding the NPFL title.
According to the coach, what is pertinent to the team is to keep on perfecting their strength in every game as they continue the 2021/22 season’s campaign.
However, Eguma while commending the team for putting up a good fight against the visiting team to ensure they get a maximum point from the game, acknowledged the resistance Nasarawa United exerted to ensure they frustrate the host’s efforts.
Read also: Chelsea: Abramovich relinquishes authority to charitable foundation
According to NPFL, He said, “Like I have always said, the league is a marathon race so you keep perfecting until you get your result at the end of the season.
“It’s too early to jump into the conclusion that this could be our season as it’s still very early,” he added.
He admitted that after the Solid Miners got a goal against the league leaders in the 72nd minute to reduce the 2-goal deficit to one, they doubled their effort towards the host to ensure the match ends in parity.
“It was a very good game for us especially in the first half when we got two goals and it was expected that we consolidate in the second but Nasarawa gave a good account of themselves and I give them kudos,” he continued.
Eguma in his assessment of Rivers United stated that the team is undergoing a process to perfection why he pinpointed that every department is being transformed by hard work.
The coach confirmed that the team is looking towards their next feature against Kano Pillars in Kaduna which he predicts to be a tough game knowing fully well the position they occupy on the league table attracts a lot of challenges.
Eguma said, “I still don’t have a perfect team yet and we are working hard to improve in every department in the team despite the results achieved so far.
“Pillars will be a very big game, anytime any day. Our results so far are also pointers that the teams will be ready for us so we have to prepare very well to come up with a good strategy to get a result in Kaduna”, he added.
Rivers United being trailed by second-placed Plateau United, got their goals in the 23rd and 40th minutes by the efforts of Chijioke Akuneto and I.K Rafiu respectively. They are 32 points on the NPFL league table from 15 games.
