NPFL: Kudos To Rivers United

The Rivers United Football Club has made history by emerging victorious in the 2021/2022 Nigeria
Professional Football League (NPFL). While it was yet three fixtures to end the season, the club had already been crowned with their first league title since their formation. This is a masterstroke that has not been accomplished in the annals of the professional football league in Nigeria. The club confirmed their maiden league title after their closest challenger, Plateau United, lost 2-1 to Akwa United of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Rivers United is a Port Harcourt-based professional football club that actively participates in the Nigerian Professional Football League, the highest level of domestic Nigerian football. The club was formed by the merger of Sharks and Dolphins FCs. And it has remained in top flight since its first season. Highly experienced Dolphins’ coach, Stanley Eguma, came to be the first manager who led them to a win in their first-ever league match, 1–0 over Enyimba.
Nigeria’s number one football team was launched in 2016. Its precursor clubs were directly owned and run by the Rivers State Government, but were having difficulty with finances off the pitch. Sharks were relegated to the First Division of the Nigerian National League in 2015 while Dolphins had barely escaped after a 2–2 draw on the final day. Rivers United’s crest contains both a shark and a dolphin to reflect the consolidation.
The club finished second to Enugu Rangers International Football Club in the 2015/2016 season of the Nigerian Premier League, qualifying them for the 2017 CAF Champions League for the first time. A four-goal second-leg win over Mali’s AS Bamako, with Esosa Igbinoba and Bernard Ovoke each scoring braces put United past the preliminary round. However, they suffered elimination by Sudan’s Al-Merrikh 4–3 on aggregate after losing a 3–0 first-round lead.
By winning the 2021/2022 league, the Stanley Eguma boys have automatically guaranteed a place in next season’s CAF Champions League. This is heartening. Nicknamed “The Pride of Rivers”, the club features the league’s joint leading scorer Chijoke Akuneto, who has 16 goals, and winger Ishaq Kayode, who has netted 15 goals. Last season, United were runners-up to another club financed by an oil-rich government, Akwa United of Akwa Ibom State.
By matchday 35, Rivers United FC had the joint-most home wins (16 with Plateau United), the most away wins (five), the least away losses (six), and they have exceeded the record number of points a title-winning club has amassed in finishing a 38-game league season, which was 73 by Dolphins in the 2010/11 season. Considerable efforts, determination, and doggedness to achieve it this time around has been the reason.
A delighted Governor Nyesom Wike lauded the players and coaching staff for the memorable victory which ended their five-year NPFL title wait. He said: “I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to the coaching staff and particularly the capable players of Rivers United for the valuable efforts they made to emerge the winner of the 2021/2022 NPFL. The government and good people of Rivers State are very proud of the team’s exploits following their dogged performances and resilient display throughout the 2021/2022 season”.
Certainly, this is a feat that would not have been feasible without the efforts and commitment of the Rivers State Government. We heartily congratulate Wike on the victory of the state’s darling team. It is simply phenomenal, particularly when compared to league seasons in the history of the NPFL. Wike, the number one supporter and sponsor of the club, consistently provided the required enablement and catalysts that animated and thrust the team to flourish to the highest string of the professional league.
To enhance its performance and effective administration, the governor, in a terse declaration by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, directed the then Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye, to immediately submit every file relating to Rivers United Football Club to the Government House in Port Harcourt. According to the statement, the management of the victorious team would be under the direct supervision of the Governor’s Office. It is out in the open that Wike’s wise decision ultimately paid off with the current notable victory.
Also deserving of commendation is the Sole Administrator of the Club, Hon. Christopher Green, whose appointment by the state governor amounts to putting a round peg in a round hole. Green has demonstrated capacity, competence and administrative prowess. He has clearly established that such magnitude of achievement was realisable in the NPFL with a high level of credibility, discipline, and decorum from the club.
Kudos to the technical crew and the players led by Coach Eguma for demonstrating the unity of purpose, excellence and spirited efforts that have translated to gigantic success, eliciting exhilaration, encomium, honour and pride to Rivers people. We equally acknowledge the unwavering efforts and tremendous support by the Supporters Club and the great sports devotees. Together, we celebrate this epoch achievement as the league trophy arrives in the state.
The government and good people of Rivers State are well-pleased with the team’s exploits following their dogged performances and supple show throughout the 2021/2022 season. Rivers United has, indeed, provoked a feeling of contentment and satisfaction to football fans and supporters across the country. This victory, unquestionably, underlines a major milestone in the history of Rivers’ football. It also projects Wike as an ardent sports lover who will stop at nothing to achieve success in that regard.
With the institution of the state-owned Real Madrid Football Academy in Port Harcourt, designed to produce prospective generations of international football superstars only comparable to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Rivers United is expected to draw quality players from the world-class soccer institution. We hope to see the best of footballers enlisting in the winning Rivers United team in the coming days, taking it to the pinnacles of global footballing game.