Sports
NPFL: Rivers Utd, Pillars In Titanic Clash In PH
Barely three days after overcoming AS Real Bamako of Mali in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions league to progress to the first round, Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt will today be involved in another testing tie in their bid to achieve glory on different fronts this season.
Today, at the same Yakubu Gowon Stadium, where the Malians were trounced 4-0, one of the leading teams in the domestic scene, Kano Pillars FC will present another challenge for the pride of Rivers.
The encounter is one of the week nine fixtures of the 2017 league season that was rescheduled due to United’s Continental engagement last weekend.
It will certainly be a block buster at the venue as both United and Pillars are heavy weights in the NPFL. Pillars have always proved a hard nut to crack but with the mood in Rivers United camp, especially, after the comprehensive annihilation of their continental opponents on Sunday, it will take some efforts from the visitors to keep them in check.
As usual, coach Stanley Eguma would set up his team to go all out for the maximum points at stake, knowning that it is only victory that would sustain early efforts to be among the frontliners this season.
Interestingly, with the display of the Festus Austin led United last Sunday, particularly, the effervescent Bernard Ovoke, Mercurial Eseosa Igbinoba and hard working Gabriel Olalekan among others, Kano Pillars will certainly have their hands full in the tie.
However, United must be on their toes as the visitors posses the quality to hurt them.
The match promises to be one of the games of the season and fans are expected to thong the revenue and behold a potentially exciting spectre.
The championship will run from today to October 12 at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia. On the ground for the championship are athletes from Brazil, Peru, Egypt, Cameroon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Mauritius and Rwanda. They arrived on Sunday.
Some of the other countries were expected in the Abia State capital yesterday. Speaking on the championship, yesterday, Abia State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nwobilor Ananaba, said the chief host, Governor Alex Otti, has mobilised facilities and the personnel to ensure a successful event.
Speaking through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Sports, Raymond Chima Ukwa, said: “We have the best mats, playing mats, especially the wheelchair playing mats, which is the first of its kind in West Africa.
“If you go around, you’ll see the hall and the preparation that has been made to ensure that people have an equitable world-class playing field.” Thrilled by Governor Otti’s support for the competition, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) President, Francis Orbih, said that, besides making all the necessary arrangements that will ensure a successful hosting of the events, “we will have a Para-Badminton workshop for coaches and players.
“Nigeria is doing well, Abia is doing well, and we want to do better to improve on where we are, which is why all these have been put together by Governor Otti.”
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles began their campaign at the 24th FIFA U20 World Cup with a narrow 1–0 loss to Norway on Monday, despite creating several opportunities to level the game.
Norway took the lead in the 9th minute after being awarded a controversial penalty. The Flying Eagles pressed for an equaliser but were denied two penalty claims in the second half.
Kparobo Arierhi came close in the 47th minute when his shot drifted wide with the goalkeeper beaten, while Tahir Maigana struck the upright in the 63rd minute.
Nasiru Salihu’s rising effort in the 71st minute also went narrowly over the bar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Seven minutes from time, Maigana again tested Norway with a long-range strike that went just wide as Nigeria continued to pile on the pressure.
Despite their dominance, the Flying Eagles could not find the breakthrough and now turn their attention to Thursday’s clash against Saudi Arabia in their second group match.
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