NPFL: Rivers Utd Targets Akwa Utd’s Scalp, ‘Morrow

Football matches involving Rivers United and Akwa United always produce exciting spectacles.
Tomorrow, at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt, the two sides will serve off yet another instalment of this fast-developing rivalry and the stakes could not be any higher.
The ‘Pride of Rivers’ as Rivers United FC is called will climb to the top half of the table (and go level on points with their high-flying opponents) with a win but claiming maximum points against the ‘Promise Keepers’ never comes easy irrespective of where the contest is decided.
Tutored by ‘Professor of aesthetic football’, Abdul Maikaba, Akwa United is one of the most-feared teams in the division.
The mantra of the Uyo club is straightforward; ‘treat the ball like a piece of Gold’ and make the opposition feel the beauty.
Maikaba, a lifelong FC Barcelona/Pep Gurdiola fan, loves possession-based football, an act he perfected at former club, Wikki Tourists as he led the unheralded Bauchi outfit to a remarkable third-placed finish in his final season in charge.
The experienced trainer will arrive in Port Harcourt with one thing in mind; victory!
That will in itself, represent a monumental feat, as Akwa United have never beaten Rivers United since the merger was announced in February 2016.
Four meetings in the last two seasons between the sides have yielded two defeats and two draws for tomorrow’s visitors and Maikaba will be desperate to claim important scalp for obvious reasons.
“Maybe, this will be the first time we will defeat Rivers United,” Maikaba told newsmen ahead of the encounter.
“I may rest some players but the objective remains the same; we want to win.
“There are no suspensions or injuries in my team.
“Friday Ubong is back from his three match ban and he will start against Rivers United on Thursday,” Maikaba declared.
The soft-spoken trainer has a retinue of stars to call on and the names easily roll off the tongue.
Goalkeeper, Olorunleke Ojo is fast attaining cult-status in Uyo following his awe-inspiring display against Al-Itthihad in the CAF Confederation Cup (he saved three penalties in the shootout of the tie against the Libyan club).
Etim Matthew, Kodjovi Dadzie, (man mountain) Kelly Kester and Denny Nya represent the anchor upon which defensive solidity is built.
An ex-Rivers United boy, Gabriel Wassa is a speed star to be feared while Friday Ubong, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and Super Eagles man, Gabriel Okechukwu provide guile and subtlety in the final third.
In Victor Mboama, Akwa have probably the most underrated albeit -talented marksman who can punish many opposition goalkeepers with little opportunity.
However, Coach Stanly Eguma and his Rivers United lads knows what is at stake and would fight hard to deny the visitors, while improving their points haul.