| Rivers United celebrate a goal |
Players of Rivers United need a draw at home against Lobi Stars on Sunday to win a bet worth half a million naira.
Rivers United look set to extend their unbeaten run in the League to nine games if they avoid defeat at home to Lobi and win a N500, 000 bet they had with their coach, Stanley Eguma.
“At the start of the season, our coach dared us to go the first five games unbeaten and we (the players) had a bet with him that if we do it, he will give us five hundred thousand naira,” a player with the side told Naijafootball247.com.
“So far we have gone four games clean, especially two difficult away fixtures at Uyo and Nnewi.
“With our fifth game being at home to Lobi Stars we believe we have a strong chance of succeeding on our bet with the coach.”
But a Rivers United win or draw today will be more than a five match streak without a loss as it actually goes back to Match Day 34 last season when the team last tasted defeat.
The team could actually take it’s streak without a loss to 7 games against Lobi Stars, their longest since they came into existence as Rivers United twelve months ago.
Their last loss was on Match Day 36 last season, a 1-0 loss to Wikki Tourists in Bauchi.
Their last loss was on Match Day 36 last season, a 1-0 loss to Wikki Tourists in Bauchi.
Stanley Eguma, the Rivers United coach faces a selection dilemma on Sunday after he made wholesale changes in his squad for the draw against FCIU.
The individuals who were introduced to the squad; Olalekan Gabriel, Femi Thomas, Weli Christian and Zoumana Doumbia all covered themselves in glory in Nnewi.
Lobi’s head coach, Godwin Uwua does not have such problems as he has played virtually the same team in the four-week old season.
John Lawrence is favourite to start ahead in goal for Lobi as Okiemute Odah did not travel to Port Harcourt with the rest of the squad.
Former Super Eagles man, Solomon Kwambe continues to lead a back four that also includes Moses Bunde, Ayagwa Raphael and Agbaji Anthony with distinction.
Sunday Alimi will likely compliment the efforts of veteran, David Tyavkase in midfield while Kingsley Eduwo and Okpotu Anthony represent two of the most-feared marksmen in the league.
When the two sides met in the league last season, the home sides won 1-0.
The onus will be on United to force the issue but the Stars from Makurdi will coming with plans to upset the apple cart in Port Harcourt according to head coach, Uwua.
“Football is not mathematics and I am sure that if we deploy our tactics to perfection we will get what we want.
“We know that Rivers United is a good side that will represent Nigeria on the continent.
“We lost out narrowly from qualifying for (either of Caf’s inter-club competitions) last season and we want to correct that this time around.
“We also believe that Rivers United cannot remain unbeaten; if they can get draws on the road and beat opponents at home, we can also inflict defeat on them as well.
“We are coming to Port Harcourt to do what we know best and we believe that at the end of the day, we will be victorious,” he told http://ift.tt/2fxyR79.
Eguma on his part says the objective is to win on Sunday and revealed he has been keeping tabs on the opposition since the season commenced.
“My plan is to win. I know they have a very strong team.
“I have been following their performances in the league and the plan is to attack from the first whistle as we need to win the match,” he said.
Rivers United is currently in second place on the NPFL standings with eight points from their opening four games while Lobi currently occupies 11th spot on the standings with six points from four matches.
