As momentum builds up in the camp of the Nigerian Champions, Rivers United, players of the Port Harcourt based team have begun to anticipates the crucial first preliminary round of Africa’s apex club competition, The CAF Champion’s League. One of the NPFL finest players and Rivers United point man, Nyima Nwagua has indicated that the game between Liberian side, Watanga FC and the Nigerian Champions, is a thing of the nation rather than being a Rivers State business.
The 29 year old former Kano Pillars player stresses the fact that Rivers United has put on it’s shoulders the hopes and aspiration of more than 200 million Nigerians who expect the team to put in their best and make them proud. “Right now, we are not playing for Rivers State alone, we are playing for Nigeria. You know when you are carrying the hopes of more than 200 million people on your shoulders, you have to represent and put in your best and make them proud too”.
Reacting to the opinion of teammate, Festus Austin, who sees the game as that which comes with a lot of pressure, Nwagua believe that the team is not necessarily under pressure but in a mission to prove to the world that Rivers United are not a push over champions. “We want to challenge ourselves to do better. I won’t want to say it’s pressure, I will say we want to prove to the world that we are not a push over championships.
“We are the real Champions of the NPFL. When the days were far apart, it was just like every other game but right now as it getting closer, the spirit in camp is getting high, the intensity is becoming high and at the end of the day I pray we come out successful”. Rivers United and Watanga FC will clash on Sunday in the CAF Champion’s League first round in the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Rivers State.
