Determined to improve the goalscoring abilities of his players, Rivers United coach, Stanley Eguma, is expected to file out dare-devil hit men against the Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi.
The coach is billed to experiment his tactics against Lobi to confirm the club’s technical strength ahead of other teams in the league.
He said, “The result matters, as we are getting up and running in the season. Our match in Port Harcourt has shown that the boys have not only improved a lot, but they also understand one another.
We look forward to a better performance against Wikki Tourists in Lokoja on Wednesday as we hope to claim our three points. “We just need to work on goals scoring.
At least, if we are able to create three or four chances in Port Harcourt, but couldn’t utilise anyone, then we need to work harder. We cannot deceive ourselves playing three matches, and getting one point.
The pressure has been there, because the fans want results. We want to put the pressure aside and concentrate on the match and get the three points.”
Meanwhile, Bernard Ovoke, the club’s dependable striker, is determined to wake up from his sleep and start scoring goals. The super quick, extravagantly skilful player, blessed with an eye for goals left fear and pain in his wake at many an NPFL sides’ defence last season.
He finished as the club’s top scorer last season and has taken two league games to get off the mark this term. Ovoke has now set a 20-goaltarget for himself for the 2016/17 season.
Ovoke said, “The game against Akwa United was not a bad game. I enjoyed myself and it was important to score. I set a target of scoring 20 goals, even before we played our first game against El Kanemi Warriors.
“I cannot do it on my own, as I will need the support of my teammates and our coaches to achieve it, but I will work even harder than I did last season to achieve this.” Rivers United will campaign on three front this season, in what is the biggest season in the club’s history.
The Pride of Rivers will compete in the CAF Champions League and in the Federation Cup alongside their exertions in the NPFL. Ovoke has set his sights high in all three competitions, saying, “The most important thing for us is to stay focused and continue working hard.
I am convinced we have a good team and if there are no injuries, I am very certain we will achieve great things this season.”
