Rivers United manager, Finidi George, has issued a firm promise to the club's supporters, vowing that the team will rediscover its winning form following a challenging period of results both domestically and on the continent.
A Week of Mixed Fortunes for the Pride of Rivers
The past week has been particularly testing for the Port Harcourt-based side. Their campaign in the prestigious CAF Champions League got off to a rocky start with an away defeat to Egypt's Pyramids FC in Cairo. The situation worsened at home last weekend when they suffered a 2-1 loss to Moroccan side RS Berkane at their adopted home ground in Uyo.
Returning to domestic action in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Rivers United laboured to a narrow 1-0 victory over Kano Pillars in an outstanding fixture on Wednesday. While the three points were secured, the performance raised concerns among the fanbase about the team's readiness for the rigours of the season ahead.
Finidi Acknowledges Psychological Hurdle
Fully aware of the growing expectations and anxieties, Coach Finidi has appealed for patience, pinpointing the mental toll of the continental setback as a key factor. He explained that the shock of the home defeat to Berkane has been difficult for the players to shake off.
"It's a difficult game and we knew from the onset," Finidi stated after the hard-fought win over Kano Pillars. "Coming from that defeat to RS Berkane in Uyo, I think it affected the players psychologically."
He elaborated on the challenge of preparing the squad, saying, "It's always difficult when you lose like that and then return home to play a league game. Psyching up the players was not easy at all. You could see in the first half that they were a little bit sloppy."
The manager, however, found a positive in the team's second-half response. "But in the second half, they pushed, and luckily for us, we got the goal. We're quite happy with the three points," he added.
The Road to Recovery Starts in Umuahia
With the immediate goal of securing a league win achieved, Finidi has now set his sights on building momentum. He has pledged to have his team "firing again" in time for their next NPFL assignment.
The task is a Matchday 16 encounter against Abia Warriors, scheduled for Sunday in Umuahia. Abia Warriors currently sit in sixth position, making them formidable opponents for a Rivers United side desperate to climb the table and restore confidence. This match represents a critical opportunity for Finidi's men to prove their manager's promise of a bounce-back is more than just words.
