By Oviri Kelvin, Sports Editor
Rivers State Governor, His Excellency, Nysome Ezenwo Wike, has honored the newly crowned champions of the Nigeria Professional Football League season in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
In the ceremony on Thursday where the trophy was officially presented by the State Honourable Commissioner of Sports, Barr Chris Green alongside the team’s head coach and captain, Stanley Eguma and Festus Austin respectively, the Governor conferred on the players the Governors Medal Service Award (GMSA).
Wike was in the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on Sunday to watch the final NPFL match between the Pride of Rivers and Gombe United, where the trophy was handed to the team in the presence of the Minister of Youth
and Sports Development, Sunday Dare and President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Pinnick Melvin Amaju.
According to the governor who showered encomiums on the Pride of Rivers for winning their first NPFL title in history, the team should be encouraged, adding that his government is fully committed to the team’s project.
Furthermore, the Rivers State Governor rewarded each of the players with $20,000 and promised to send them for a two-week training tour to Real Madrid. The Trumpet Gathered
“Today, our own Rivers United FC winners of NPFL 2021/2022 season were at the Government House to formally present their trophy,” Wike said.
“We are elated at their victory and the record margin they used to win the league.
“To encourage them, the players will get $20,000 each and be sponsored to Real Madrid on a 2-week training tour.
Read Also: Lyon stops Asisat Oshoala’s Barca’s second Women’s UEFA
“We are also fully committed to supporting the team to ensure they excel in their continental competition,” the Governor who lost in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primaries to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, assured.
Rivers United contended for their first NPFL trophy with Plateau United but edged the latter out with 10 points difference on the NPFL log to finish the season on 77 points.
Moreover, with the club’s triumph in the NPFL league, it got an automatic qualification to play in the CAF Champions League and the Governor has promised to gift them an additional $20,000 each if they qualify for the group stage.
Click on The Trumpet and follow us on our Twitter page for more:
