Desmond Iwuchukwu
Rivers United Technical Manager, Stanley Eguma, has described his side’s two-nil victory over Plateau United as separating the boys from the men.
The Pride of Rivers extended their lead at the top of the Nigeria Professional Football League table to 10 points, after beating Plateau United 2-0 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.
In his post-match reaction, Eguma applauded the Jos-based side for giving his team a tough fight, saying that it has motivated his team to keep fighting.
While applauding his players for consistency and togetherness, he warned that it’s still not over despite the ten points lead.
The current longest-serving gaffer in the league appreciated the sponsors for giving them the necessary support, which he believes has made the environment friendlier for his lads.
His words: “Today we have separated the boys from the men. It’s very clear that we are far ahead with the good football we play and the result that we capped it off.
“It was a well-deserved victory. Plateau United gave us a very strong tough fight. The standard of the game was very high. I thank them for giving us a tough battle, they have been chasing us and that has given us the motivation to keep working.
“They are happy because the environment is good for them. It is not about money. The programmes and unity in the team are keeping them together as one big happy family.
“That’s why you see in the field of play there is no selfishness, anybody can score and they are working for each other. We have given them the environment to be happy.
“It’s almost but yet no over. We still need to work harder. I commend the players, they have done well and the sponsors are doing what is expected.
“At the end of the season, we need to finetune the team for the continent to ensure we get up to a higher standard at a required rate in the continent. I am quite sure the team can represent the country in the continent.”
Similarly, the skipper of the team, Festus Austin, said that they will keep pushing till the very end while acknowledging the support from the state government.
“The job is all most 90% done and we will not keep any stone unturned, we will keep pushing. Although we expected this before the league started. We started well and don’t have to go behind and just have to be up there.
“Our number one supporter the governor has done so well for us. We don’t have any excuse but to deliver for him.”
