Sammy Wejinya
Nigeria, May 31, 2016 – Very few saw this coming but Rivers United are the champions of the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season-at the half way stage. It has been an intense, bruising, exhilarating and sometimes, dramatic first half of the campaign from our perspective. Rivers United Media now x-rays the first 19 matches of our season and how we were crowned champions at the half way stage.
We 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 in 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.
We waited for our moment and it arrived in the 65th minute when pint-sized midfielder, Obomate Frederick curled home a free kick from 25-odd yards. The former Sharks FC man was ecstatic after the goal (the first in the history of the club in a competitive game) and identified hard work and painstaking practice as the reasons for his success from set pieces.
“(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 goals. 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 fearsome attacker, Guy Kuemian.
The Ivoirian who was making his debut, crossed with pin point accuracy for Obomate to head home, reduce the deficit midway into the second period.
Our right back, Chigozie Ihunda was extremely unlucky not bring us back on level terms moments later when his fierce strike clattered against the post with the MFM goalkeeper, James Aiyeyemi well-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 word 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 to be 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)
Games like these give you the impression that it could just be ‘your season’.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 Kuemian had other ideas.
He struck an opportunistic winner at the death which sent the fans wild as United claimed a heart-warming and crucial 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.
“We made individual and collective mistakes. We tried to come back late in the game but the damage had already been done, earlier in the game,” our gaffer, Eguma said afterwards.
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.
Inah was shown a straight red card for tripping the 3SC man.
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, offensively in the first half despite dominating poor 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.
MD 11; Heartland 2-1 Rivers United (Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri. Sunday, April 10)
A very difficult game in Owerri which we lost by the odd goal in three. Anthony Oussou and Onyebuchi Ajunwa both netted for the Naze Millionaires while our goal which was scored by Okonkwo, was nothing more than scant consolation in the end.
Our Ivoirian marksman, Guy Kuemian suffered a serious injury-a strain of the left quadriceps- in this game and would end up being side-lined for more than a month. Heartland deserved to win this one and their head coach, Alphonsus Dike summed it up aptly in the end.
“It was a keenly-contested game and a good result for us. My boys were able to adapt to the situation; they played the way they were supposed to in the end. They did well,” Dike told Rivers United Media shortly after the game.
MD 12; Rivers United 1-0 Kano Pillars (Yakubu Gowon Stadium. Sunday, April 17)
This was billed as our second real test of the season (after our opening day win over Enyimba) and once again, we proved to be the masters at handling big occasions. It was also the day when Bernard Ovoke announced himself as a man to be feared and respected, in equal measure.
The ‘Magic Seven’ netted the game’s decisive goal in the 78th minute, nine minutes after he was introduced as a second half substitute, following a defensive mix up in the Pillars defence.
The win over Sai Masu Gida was vital with our gaffer, Eguma explaining that painstaking pre-match preparations saw us claim bragging rights in the end.
“I had been monitoring Kano Pillars for a while now and I know how they play. They play a possession-based game with a view of running down the clock in away games but in the end, our tactical plans worked to perfection,” he said.
MD 13; Plateau United 2-1 Rivers United (Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos. Sunday, April 24)
Our second visit to the Rwang Pam Stadium ended in heartbreak as Plateau United claimed a late winner in an intense game. Benjamin Turba gave the hosts an early lead but we hit back through Okonkwo whose looping header, nine minutes from the end gave us hope of claiming a share of the spoils.
An unfortunate own goal by Sunday Rotimi at the death however handed the home side maximum points.
“We should have gotten a point or even all three today but we lost it (at the death). We must put that behind us now and look ahead to the next game,” our gaffer, Eguma said afterwards. Invaluable words as we would face the best team in the league (at that point)- Enugu Rangers, in our next game.
MD 14: Rivers United 3-1 Enugu Rangers (Yakubu Gowon Stadium. May 1, 2016)
With the benefit of hindsight, this was the most important game we played so far this season.
If we had lost, it very likely would have knocked the wind off our sails!
The bookies gave the game to Rangers long before kick-off, but we produced a devastating display of the highest quality to tear the form books to shreds.
Missing no less than four of our first choice strikers, Okonkwo (due to suspension), Kuemian, Andoh and Godbless Asamoah (as a result of varying degrees of injury), we prosecuted the game without any recognizable striker.
Ovoke however lived up to the occasion, pulling the strings and helping himself to a first half brace. Christian Weli scored a spectacular goal as we ran riot in a frenzied first half.
Olalekan Gabriel inadvertently diverted a cross into his own goal (the first and only time we conceded at home in the first half this season) in the first minute of the second half to briefly give Rangers hope of an unlikely comeback.
It was however the closest the ‘Flying Antelopes’ came to getting any joy in Port Harcourt with Ihunda and Kola Anubi spurning excellent opportunities to add to our lead late on.
“When I realized that all of my strikers were unavailable, I decided to draft Ihunda as the main striker because I knew he could do a good job. He did not disappoint but everyone in the team played well.
“Like I will always say, nobody at Rivers United is getting carried away because we have achieved nothing this season. We know what our objectives are and we will continue to work harder to achieve it,” Eguma said after the game.
MD 15: Warri Wolves 0-1 Rivers United (Warri City Stadium, Warri. May 8, 2016)
We recorded our second win on the road in deserved fashion against an excellent Wolves side. Ovoke was the goal scoring hero for us as he side-footed home calmly from close range following good work from Asamoah and Okonkwo. The ‘Magic Seven’ almost scored our second in the 72nd minute but drew his shot marginally wide off (Wolves’ goalkeeper) Dele Ajiboye’s left hand post, after taking the entire Wolves back line to the cleaners.
The electrifying winger was given a standing ovation by the home fans when he was eventually substituted in the 80th minute-a just reward for a barn storming display.
“I was pleased to have received a standing ovation from the Warri Wolves fans. Right now, I am doing well, but I am still not yet back to my best. I was playing a lot better when I was at (former club) Bayelsa United but slowly, I am getting back there,” Ovoke told Rivers United moments after the game.
MD 16: Rivers United 1-0 Wikki Tourists (Yakubu Gowon Stadium. May 8, 2016)
Gabriel Olalekan was the unlikeliest of heroes for us in this one as his first half header off an Ovoke delivery saw us climb from sixth to second of the log.
We had to dig deep against the side with the best attacker in the league- Godwin Obaje- knowing that we playing without two first choice defenders; Ihunda and our inspirational captain, Festus Austin.
“Missing out on the services of Austin and Ihunda made the game very difficult for us. The captain has been very inspirational for us. However, we had to show a lot of maturity and character in the game and that gave us the win,” our gaffer, Eguma told Rivers United Media after the tension-soaked game.
MD 17: Abia Warriors 1-0 Rivers United (Umuahia Township Stadium. May 15, 2016)
This was the worst game we played in the first half of the season largely because there was little football to be played! A terrible water-logged pitch in Umuahia clearly inhibited both
sides from playing any real football.
Michael Olaha scored the game’s decisive goal on 24 minutes but it failed to paper the cracks on what was a very ugly game of football not helped by a shocking playing surface in Umuahia. Even the Abia Warriors coach, Kennedy Boboye complained about the state of the pitch after the game.
“We could not do what we were supposed to do because the pitch was water-logged. As a result, we had to alter our game plan by playing the ball into our opponents’ half and fighting them there,” Boboye explained tepidly to Rivers United Media moments after the game.
MD 18: Rivers United 1-0 Akwa United (Yakubu Gowon Stadium. May 18, 2016)
We beat an excellent Akwa United side 1-0 in Port Harcourt with Ovoke netting the winner in the fifth minute. Clear cut opportunities were few and far between in the contest but we almost doubled our lead on the stroke of half time.
Ovoke’s teasing ball, following exceptional work by Obomate found an unmarked Asamoah on the left but the Ghanaian skied his volley wide to the anguish of the home faithful. Obomate missed a gilt-edged opportunity in the second half as Akwa pressed, unsuccessfully, for a late equalizer.
“We lost a lot of balls in midfield today and that allowed our opponents to put us under a lot pressure.
The reason for this is that our players still have not recovered from the exertions of our previous game against Abia Warriors (in Umuahia on May 15) which a very difficult game. However, it is important to win games like this and I am pleased we did it,” our gaffer, Eguma said after the hard-fought win.
MD 19: Lobi Stars 1-0 Rivers United (Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi. May 22, 2016)
A game of great drama.
Ovoke had two excellent chances in the first half-the second, a left-footed shot which was cleared off the line- but we were clearly second best in a first stanza which could have seen Lobi easily go four goals up.
The home side eventually took the lead on the hour after the referee awarded them a penalty after ruling that our captain, Festus Austin had handled in the penalty area. Sunday Ekleche made no mistakes as he fired past our goal keeper, Sunday Rotimi from 12 yards.
We were awarded a penalty of our own in the final minute of added time after Moses Bunde stopped Christian Weli’s goal-bound effort with his arm. Okonkwo however buckled under immense pressure and fired his penalty high and wide.
“The Lobi side started game better in the first half, attacking and trying to get goals but my players showed a lot of character, absorbing the pressure and stopping them from scoring. We played better in the second half and should have scored even before they got the penalty but unfortunately it was not to be,” our gaffer Eguma said afterwards.
HALF TIME VERDICT BY THE GAFFER
This were the words of our technical manager in his assessment of our performance in the first half of the season.
“So far so good for Rivers United.The beginning of the season was extremely difficult for us but things changed as the season wore on. We started getting (positive) results and right now, we are top of the table. While I admit that these are good times for us, we will not relent in our efforts. We are not going to start singing and dancing because this is not the time to celebrate.
“Technically, we can still be relegated so we will continue fighting with every game until the end of the season. Enyimba and Rangers have outstanding matches and will (leap frog us) if they get wins in their matches. Kano Pillars are also in contention too so nothing has been decided yet,” Eguma submitted.
Rivers United is currently top of the NPFL standings with 31 points from 18 matches.
