Rivers United battle ready for Rangers, says coach Eguma

Coach of Rivers United Football Club, Stanley Eguma, has promised to use his side’s clash against Rangers of Enugu as one of the stepping stones towards qualification for continental action, next season.

The Port Harcourt-based team will today clash with the defending champion in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 32 fixture, scheduled for the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

Speaking with The Guardian, yesterday, Eguma said his team does not have any other thing than to go to Enugu and fight for available points, adding that his team was desirous of returning to continental action next season after both clubs failed to qualify from the group stage of the CAF Champions League.

“Our game against Enugu Rangers is a big one and it is an important match for both teams. Our current position on the table is not a good one and Rivers United does not have any other thing than to go there and fight for any available point. This is our mission statement for the game.

We both did not do well at the continent, but in our case, we did not get our acts together and that explains why we lost out. It affected our players psychologically and the effect is what we are trying to get over by psyching ourselves up,” he said.

Rivers United, which currently occupies 11th position on the table, with 42 points, according to Eguma, will have to work harder if it desires to finish well. “What we have left for us now is to see how we can work hard and finish well in the league. Getting a continental ticket for next season at least will serve as a consolation. I know the league this season is a very difficult one, but I just hope that at the end of it all, we will be able to achieve something for ourselves,” he stated. Enugu Rangers with 39 points and on 17th spot on the league sacked Coach Imama Amapakabo for poor results, after winning the league last season.