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“Rivers United Is Carrying Nigeria on Its Back,” Says Commissioner Chris Green
Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Barrister Chris Green, has defended Rivers United’s contribution to Nigeria’s continental football reputation, insisting that the club’s success has kept the country’s CAF Inter-Club competition slots intact and warning that the situation would have been “suicidal” without their efforts.
Addressing delegates at the Nigeria Women Football League Annual General Meeting in Port Harcourt, Green recalled how Rivers United has consistently “bailed Nigeria out of a very bad situation” through strong continental performances.
“Somebody say Rivers United is carrying Nigeria on it back and that their back is aching them. The weight is too much. This is the third time we are bailing Nigeria out of a very bad situation where our coefficient couldn’t be enough to sustain our four slots in the CAF Inter club competition.
“If we didn’t do it this time, I wonder what football would be in Nigeria. What is there to compete for with two slots? It would been suicidal. It would have been very difficult to recover,” he said.
The former NFF board member described Rivers United’s resilience as critical to Nigeria’s football survival, citing the politics of coefficient ranking that determines how many clubs each nation fields in CAF competitions.
“In other climes, they defend their points coefficient. We have to play the politics of football in Africa. In other countries, you always see those teams coming back because they have the points coefficient and for them to maintain it they have to be on the continent. Once they are on the continent they continue to get more points.
“When they get more points, they become unassailable to overtake but in Nigeria if not Rivers United, which other club? Ghana have more points. Enyimba is way behind and are not playing in this edition. It’s a mirage,” Green stated.
He further described ensuring Rivers United’s progression as “the greatest test” of his tenure as Commissioner, revealing that his personal focus has been to maintain Nigeria’s continental credibility.
“That was the greatest test I had. To make sure that Rivers United get to the CAF Champions through stage. The men won the Nations Cup in 2013.
“Everybody was looking up to Rivers United. I am totally engrossed in getting our of this problem. The club need all the supports.”
Green also commended women’s teams such as Bayelsa Queens for upholding Nigeria’s dominance on the continent.
“See what has happened to our girls playing in the CAF Women’s Champions League. Bayelsa Queens just came back. Nigeria remains the best in women’s football in Africa.
“We would have fortified that team very well irrespective of where you are coming from. We really have to play this game.”
