Nigerian Football
NPFL: Eunisell charges Rivers United to stay on course in title race 
Nigeria’s foremost speciality chemicals, fluids and energy production solutions company, Eunisell Limited, has urged Rivers United to continue in their bid to win the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Rivers United have continued to set the pace in this season’s NPFL and have kept top spot for 12 consecutive 12 matchdays as well as leading the league table with 55 points from 25 matches.
Eunisell Managing Director, Chika Ikenga, has enjoined the Port Harcourt-based outfit to stay focused in their quest for the NPFL title despite stiff challenge from the chasing pack.
Ikenga believes that “Rivers United have put themselves in the driving seat of the title race” with a four-point gap over second-placed Plateau United.
The Eunisell boss also advised Rivers United to be braced for subsequent matches which he believes will be more challenging than previous ones.
“Rivers United have put themselves in the driving seat of the title race in the league, and their performance this season has been equally consistent. Now that is something they need to maintain in their bid to win the league this season because other teams will be breathing down their necks with plenty of matches to go.
“That is why they will have to put in 100 per cent in their coming matches because the other teams will want to beat them at this point of the season. So the matches they have before them will be tricky in some cases and at times, difficult but they just need to stay on course to win the league title this season,” Ikenga said.
Ikenga further pointed out that Rivers United have remained consistent in the past two seasons by finishing in the top-two and believes that the Pride of Rivers can go a step better this time.
“If you followed the league in the last two seasons, you will notice that Rivers United have been consistent, finishing in first two positions. Now I believe with the way they have performed this season, they can go on and win it,” stated Ikenga.
Interestingly, Eunisell’s involvement with Rivers United in the past seven years has coincided with the club’s improved performance in recent campaigns in the NPFL.
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
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