Their capture, an audacious statement of intent by Rivers United, sent seismic waves across the country and coach Stanley Eguma says he expects the duo of Ifeanyi Anaemena and Theophilus Afelokhai to show just what they’re about when United take on Futuro Kings in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The hugely experienced Super Eagles internationals moved across state lines from Aba to Port Harcourt when they joined on a free from Enyimba in the off season.
Their acquisition pointed to a serious resolve by Rivers United, to finally end a trophy drought stretching back to 2011 when they were still Dolphins FC.
28-year-old defender Anaemena and goalkeeper Afelokhai, 32, boast plenty trophy-winning experience with the former a two-time league champion with Enyimba while Afelokhai boasts four league titles across spells in Aba and Kano Pillars.
The duo were also part of the Enyimba side that reached the semi-finals of the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup and played key roles as the 2-time African Champions advanced to the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup earlier this year, losing to Guinean outfit Horoya over two legs.
With Rivers United set to begin their season with a trip to Equatorial Guinean debutants Futuro Kings on Saturday, 28 November, in the first leg of preliminary round of the Confederation Cup, Eguma whose team just ended their participation in the Governor Dapo Abiodun Pre-Season tournament, has talked up the qualities of his shiny new acquisitions.
The long-serving United boss believes Anaemena and Afelokhai provides the club with added solidity in defence and says their chemistry from years of working together will benefit the club immensely starting from their season opener on the continent.
“They’re good players and are integral members of the team, we expect that the more they play together the more they understand themselves,” Eguma told busybuddiesng.com.
“They came from the same club and their cohesion will give us a good balance in the defence and that is why today we had to bring them back and considering the fact that in a very short time we play in the continent and we expect to see what they can perform in the continent.”
