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NPFL: Finidi George gears up for battle against Shooting Stars
By Saheed Afolabi
Rivers United coach Finidi George has turned his attention to the upcoming top-of-the-table clash against Shooting Stars in Port Harcourt, as the Pride of Rivers aim to extend their unbeaten run in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Rivers United secured a valuable away point against Katsina United on Sunday, maintaining their solid start to the season. Despite the draw, George is determined to prepare his side for the tough encounter with Shooting Stars, who are also in fine form.
“We’ll plan carefully to ensure the boys recover properly after the two-day journey,” Finidi said, acknowledging the fatigue that comes with long away trips.
“It’s not easy being on the road, but we’ll get them ready for the challenge against Shooting Stars.”
Reflecting on the match against Katsina United, Finidi believed his team deserved to take all three points.
“It was a good game, despite the very hot weather. If you look at the first half, we deserved to score at least two goals, but we didn’t take our chances,” he explained.
“In the second half, they pushed hard, but we still had one moment—Kabir’s shot, which could have resulted in a goal.”
The Rivers United boss acknowledged the pressure on his team during the second half but praised his players for managing to hold firm.
“It was more pressure on us, but we contained them well. We had one more chance that didn’t materialize, but overall, I think one point is a fair result for an away match.”
While disappointed to miss out on the full three points, Finidi was quick to acknowledge the difficult conditions at Katsina United’s home ground.
“I won’t ask for more, although I wanted the three points. This is a difficult place to come and earn a point, so we’re happy with it,” he added.
Rivers United currently sit in second place on the NPFL table with 14 points from six matches. With the high-stakes encounter against Shooting Stars on the horizon, Finidi is hopeful his side can continue their strong form and secure a crucial win on home turf.
