Sammy Wejinya
Nigeria, April 8, 2016 – Rivers United started the season with an important fixture at home to the champions, Enyimba International. Many questioned our temperament for the big game but we got it right on the day.
MD 1 Rivers United 1-0 Enyimba (Yakubu Gowon Stadium. Sunday, February 21
The champions, Enyimba arrived Port Harcourt in all their glory seeking maximum points at a ground where they had claimed much joy in previous seasons. It was a well-fought contest which the People’s Elephants dominated for long stretches especially in the first half.
“(Before I took the free kick), I knew the hour had come (to score). I scored from a similar position against Warri Wolves and Enugu Rangers (last season).
“I give God the glory for the goal because I knew I was going to score. I practice free kicks in training and Deco was the player I learn from, just by watching him on television,” Obomate told Rivers United media after the game.
MD 2; MFM FC 2-1 (Agege Stadium, Lagos. Wednesday February 24
We suffered a lot in this one with most of our top performers failing to turn up until the second half. MFM raced to a 2-0 lead inside the opening 25 minutes under sweltering conditions at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.
Ifeanyi Ifeanyi converted a penalty for the hosts in the 18th minute after Sikiru Olatunbosun was fouled in the box by our captain, Festus Austin. Olatunbosun doubled the hosts’ lead in the 24th minute following an electrifying counter attack that left our rear guard reeling.
We were truly mediocre in that first half and could easily have shipped in more.
MFM, in stark contrast, were flying and could easily have added two more goals before the break with our big defender, Joseph Douhadji making a goal line clearance off a Musa Newman chip in the 31st minute while Olatunbosun had a rocket beaten out unconventionally by Rotimi in the 37th minute.
We improved after the restart following the introduction of Guy Kuemian at the break. The Ivoirian who was making his debut, crossed with pin point accuracy for Obomate to head home and reduce the deficit midway into the second period.
Our right back, Chigozie Ihunda was extremely unlucky not to bring us back on level terms moments later when his fierce strike clattered against the post with the MFM goalkeeper, James Aiyeyemi beaten.
The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for our gaffer, Stanley Eguma who bemoaned our slow start to the game.
“We were just not in the game in the first half. We improved in the second half but this is a lesson for us and we will learn from this,” he said.
MD 3; Rivers 2-0 FC Ifeanyi Ubah (Yakubu Gowon Stadium. February 28
This was our easiest game till date. We bossed this one and scored either side of the break through Ihunda and Obomate (his third in consecutive matches) to close out a routine win.
Ihunda’s goal was scored in fortuitous circumstances as his left-footed strike deflected wickedly past a stranded FCIU goalkeeper, Edwin Nwakanma.
Our Ghanaian forward, Wilson Andoh provided the assist for the second goal as his cross from the right was headed in by Obomate in cold blooded fashion.
Obomate was rewarded for his performances by the League Bloggers as he won the LBA player of the month award for February.
“I am shocked but very happy to win the award. Shocked because I was not expecting to win with so many good players in the league and happy because it means hard work is appreciated. This means a lot to me but it will not get into my head.
“I will continue working hard to improve and also help Rivers United get a continental position at the end of the season,” he said.
MD 4; Giwa FC 2-1 Rivers United (Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos. March 2
It still beggars belief how we did not win this game. That we lost is even more surprising as Giwa appeared second best for most parts.
We dominated for large stretches despite Moses Opitoke’s sixth minute opener, scored against the run of play, for the hosts.
Sunday Daniel scored the second for Giwa FC, also against the run of play in the 73rd minute but we hit back in stoppage time through Godbless Asamoah whose effort represented nothing more than scant consolation.
The gaffer, Eguma was philosophical in his chat with our club’s media team after the game.
“We cannot complain too much. It was a strange game but when you don’t take your chances, you lose,” he said.
MD 5; Rivers United 1-0 Nasarawa United (Yakubu Gowon Stadium. Sunday, March 6
This was our most dramatic game till date. The celebrations at full time were wild, deeply emotional and nothing short of manic as Kuemian struck with the last kick of the game to secure maximum points for the ‘Pride of Rivers’.
Nasarawa United came into the game with no points on the board after their first three games but Kabiru Dogo’s charges fought hard to claim a share of the spoils.
Their frustrating tactics almost earned them a point which would have been deserved in the end but the ‘little magicial’, Kuemian had other ideas.
He struck an opportunistic winner at the death which sent the fans wild as United claimed a heart-warming win.
Our captain, Austin said the win was more significant than the ‘normal three points’.
“This win is more than the normal three points. When you win games like these, it means something special will happen at the end of the season. I have been in football long enough to know this,” he said.
MD 6; Niger Tornadoes 3-2 Rivers United (Confluence Stadium, Lokoja. Sunday, March 13
This was a match for the ages; a truly special contest that had the pulses racing.
Unfortunately, we lost by the odd goal in five after going three goals down inside an hour as Ismaila Gata, Gabriel Wassa and Jackson Daniel all netted for the home side.
A late fight back saw us reduce the deficit to 2-3 following goals from Daniel Israel and Kuemian but it proved to be too little too late for us as we lost yet again on the road.
MD 7; 3SC 1-0 Rivers United (Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan. March 19
We fought like Gladiators in the second half despite having one of our defenders, Ofem Inah sent off for a straight red card five minutes before half time. Wasiu Jimoh scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot after Inah was penalized for upending Nojeem Olukokun.
We came close to scoring on several occasions in the first half with Chukwunonso Okonkwo smashing a right-footed shot against the post in the 19th minute.
Kuemian also came close to scoring for us in the 15th minute while Yusuf Jaiyeola’s second half header which went narrowly wide represented our last chance of the half.
Despite the defeat, our performance attracted words of adulation from the 3SC coach, Kadiri Ikhana.
“No doubt about it (Rivers United is a good team). If you combine Sharks and Dolphins FC (both clubs were merged to form Rivers United), you will have a great force.
“By the time the team blends, they will play better than this; I have no doubts about it,” Ikhana told RIVERS UNITED MEDIA after the game.
MD 8; Rivers United 0-0 Sunshine Stars (Yakubu Gowon Stadium. Wednesday, March 23
We dropped points for the first time at home this season against a stubborn Sunshine Stars side that came to Port Harcourt with a clear game plan-get at least a point at all costs.
Kuemian missed a sitter from two yards out, very early in the first half and it set the tone for a frustrating day in the office when we frittered away a plethora of chances.
On a day we dropped to 11th on the NPFL standings, our gaffer, Eguma explained that the team still needed to bond as a compact unit.
“We have not really started playing as a cohesive unit. I believe we will get it right in the shortest possible time,” he said.
MD 9: Ikorodu United FC 2-3 Rivers United (Onikan Stadium, Lagos. Sunday, March 23)
We finally got it right on the road this season with our gaffer, Eguma opting to start three strikers, Kuemian, Andoh and Okonkwo against the Lagos side. The three attackers all netted in the first half to cancel out Ifegwu Ojukwu’s brace.
Eguma was pleased with the win but insisted our lads will keep their feet firmly on the ground. “This is not the time to celebrate. The league is a marathon and not a sprint. We must continue to work hard and stay humble because we have not achieved anything yet,” he said.
MD 10; Rivers United 1-0 El Kanemi Warriors (Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Wednesday, April 6
We won consecutive games for the first time this season against a difficult opponent. Daniel Israel came off the bench to telling effect as he squared for Okonkwo to tap home from a yard in the 66th minute to secure maximum points.
We were poor in the first half despite dominating and forcing no less than 15 corner kicks in the opening stanza.
However, we produced our best second half display of the season could easily have scored three or four. The win saw us rise to fifth on the standings with 16 points, just three adrift of the leaders, FC Ifeanyi Ubah. Our gaffer was pleased with our performance.
“It was important to win this game after that victory in Lagos but we have to continue working hard,” he said.
