Latest News
Duke Udi warns Rivers United against NPFL fixtures congestion in CAF glory chase
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Former Nigeria International, Duke Udi has warned Rivers United against accumulating outstanding Nigeria Premier Football League games due to their CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
The Port Harcourt-based side has qualified for the quarter-final of the CAF Confederation Cup, and are also having a game in hand in the Nigeria Premier Football League despite placed second in Group B.
And the former Sunshine Stars coach urges the NPFL title holders to avoid fixtures congestion in their quest for continental glory.
“I wish Rivers United well. The team has to be ready for the league and continental games at the same time and should know what they want to face from the onset,” Udi told Brila FM.
“When you go to the continent, you should know that you’re playing about four to six games and about seven matches a month. Qualifying for the continent is a big task because they knew what was going to befall them. Now, the team has to take it like that.
“If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. It happens in Europe and teams complain. They will not shift your match because you are playing continental match. You just have to play the match with what you have.
“At the end of the day, any result you get you take it like that. They won’t say because you are playing in the continent they will change the NPFL schedule. The IMC is trying to adjust our calendar to that of Europe.”
Rivers United occupy the second position in Group B of the NPFL log with 20 points, six points behind Lobi Stars after last Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the leaders.
