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Rivers United’s technical adviser, Finidi George, said his challenge to the referee’s decision to interrupt their NPFL game for crowd-related issues during his team’s 1-1 draw with Plateau United led to his dismissal.
After he was shown a red card in front of Rivers United’s home fans at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on Monday, Finidi George urged NPFL officials to focus on maintaining momentum in matches.
He stated, “Referees should stay focused on the game. They needed to manage the flow, and we felt our momentum was disrupted. I rarely get frustrated with refereeing decisions, but this was particularly impactful on our performance.”
The match saw Plateau United take the lead through Victor Temitope’s goal, only for Rivers United to level with an equalizer from Handsome Surveyors.
Rivers United is going into the second half of the season sitting in the second spot with 34 points in 19 games, two points below first-placed Remo Stars. Plateau United are occupying the 16th spot.
Brown Ideye Celebrates NPFL Return
Former Super Eagles forward Brown Ideye expressed his joy at returning to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) after being unveiled by the nine-time champions, Enyimba.
The 36-year-old has signed a contract for the remainder of the season, marking his return to the league after previously playing for defunct Ocean Boys in the 2006-2007 season. Ideye shared his gratitude on social media, highlighting how meaningful this comeback is to him.
El-Kanemi Warriors Go On One Week Break
El-Kanemi Warriors have decided to take a one-week break following the completion of the first half of the NPFL 2024-2025 season.
The team announced that players would return to training on January 7, 2025, to prepare for the upcoming matches, starting with a clash against Kano Pillars on January 19.
Currently sitting in fifth place with 29 points, the Warriors are looking forward to building on their performance.
Home away from home
Sunshine Stars Chairman Bamidele Ologunloluwa discussed the team’s experience playing away from their traditional home ground in Akure due to ongoing renovations at the Akure Township Stadium.
He emphasized the importance of these renovations for regaining strong home support, which is vital for their success in the league.
Ologunloluwa acknowledged the team’s position in the NPFL and remains optimistic about achieving their season’s targets, stating, “With a collective effort, we can turn things around, and our goals are still within reach.”
Note that Sunshine Stars finished the first half of the season in 15th place, accumulating 21 points.
