Rivers United coach Stanley Eguma believes the Port Harcourt side can claim the Nigeria Professional Football league (NPFL) crown this season – a feat he last achieved with the club a decade ago when they were still Dolphins FC.
The Pride of Rivers are currently 4th in the NPFL standings, with 35 points from 20 matches, just two points behind leaders Akwa United.
Eguma’s side also boasts the best home record in the current campaign, having won all ten matches they have played at the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium in Port Harcourt, which has now become their fortress.
Contrastingly, their away form has been far from impressive, garnering just 5 points from ten games and falling to heavy defeats at Lobi Stars (4-1), Akwa United (3-0) and Dakadda (4-2) in the first round of the ongoing 2020/2021 season.
Though he believes wining the league this season is ‘possible’ the long-serving tactician admits it would be a difficult task considering the level of competition from the likes of Kwara United, Akwa United, Kano Pillars, Rangers and Enyimba, who all have a chance of claiming the title.
“From the beginning, we knew we had the potentials to win the league, it’s very possible. And we have that mindset,” he said.
“But it’s a league and it’s a marathon. Sometimes, you might be facing some bad patches on the road. So, the first round has come and gone, when we lost scandalously away from home. This time around, we have all that it takes to fire up and get to the top.
“It’s not an easy job because teams like Akwa United, teams like Kano Pillars, Kwara United, Enyimba, Rangers and the rest of them, they are all very strong teams that can also win the title, but we at Rivers United, we have set our sight, our mind, everything towards the title.
“We know it is very possible (to win the league) if we continue to put up good fight at home and do well and improve in our away games, which is the most important thing.”
Rivers United commenced the second stanza of the season with an impressive 2-0 home win against Dakadda on Sunday, and will next face Rangers in a potentially-explosive Match Day 21 encounter in Enugu on 16 May, as they continue their search for a first league title since 2011.
