Still basking in the euphoria of the 2-0 drubbing of high-flying Enugu Rangers Int’l last Sunday at the Aper Aku Stadium, Lobi Stars have moved with the victorious spirit into the city of Port-Harcourt to challenge table toppers Rivers United for the maximum points in the re-arranged MatchDay 21 of the 2021/2022 NPFL season on Thursday April 7, 2022 at the Adokie Amesiamaka Stadium.

Lobi Stars Match-day 21 opponents, Rivers United who have been at the summit of the table for several weeks are inarguably in imperious form and can easily send shivers down the spines of their opponents.

With 43 points from 20 matches, the ‘Pride of Rivers’ have enjoyed an unbeaten run since MatchDay 12 after their only defeat of the season in the current season which came against Plateau United in Jos.

However, even as Lobi Stars may be seen to be coming into the contest with a not too impressive record of a lowly 22 points from 20 games, leaving them one step below the red line after the MatchDay 21 games that took place on Wednesday, April 6, they can be spurred on by the convincing 2-0 victory over Enugu Rangers last Sunday.

With former international, Dominic Iorfa, back in the saddle as the Vice-chairman/CEO, a new wave of optimism is oozing in the camp of Lobi Stars so the ‘Ortom boys’ can’t be dismissed with a wave of the hand even if the odds are heavily against them.

Moreover, on all time Head-to-Head, Lobi Stars are standing taller than their opponents, having engaged Rivers United 23 times with 12 wins and 3 draws, leaving the garden city boys with only 8 wins.

Out of the 23 games, Lobi Stars scored 27 times averaging 1.7 goals against Rivers United who managed to score 22 times, with an average of 0.96 goal per game, a deficit of 5 in goals scored and 4 in number of matches won.

But on current form, Rivers United have performed better than Lobi Stars as they have not lost any game in their last 5 outings, winning 3 with 2 draws while their MatchDay 21 opponents just woke up from slumber to record their first win over Enugu Rangers in five matches .

The Technical Adviser of Lobi Stars, Baba Ganaru, while speaking to the Club’s Media Crew, expressed confidence that something positive will come out of the potentially explosive clash with Rivers United.

“Every match is a different game and has a different approach. I am aware of the set objectives of the club. We are in a precarious position and to move out, we will have to be picking home and away points.

“It is not going to be easy but if my boys will maintain the fighting spirit they showed against Rangers last Sunday, we won’t return to Makurdi empty handed,” said the former El-Kanemi Warriors technical adviser.

A combination of motivation and zeal in the camp of Lobi Stars is at play and can make a whole difference against Rivers United in this encounter, all things being equal.

Austin Tyowua
Lobi Stars Media
08033771180

This is just as the Special Adviser to Rivers State Governor on Real Madrid Academy, Barrister Christopher Green, says the state government remains fully resolute in their quest of making the project the best ever in Africa.

Rohr, who showered encomiums on the structures, intentions, and executions made so far on the prestigious academy, stated this at the weekend when he was shown around the facility by Green.

After a comprehensive tour around the four different blocks of the Academy situated in the same surroundings as the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt, Rohr could not hold back his admiration for the project and the facilitator, Governor Nyesom Wike.

In Rohr’s company for the tour were Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Director Austin Eguavoen and Super Eagles’ Team Secretary Dayo Enebi Achor.

According to him, “The infrastructures are high level, it’s like in Europe and you can compare with one of the best academies in Europe like they have in Spain; Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia or in France in Paris (PSG) and in Germany in Bayern Munich.

“I think they (Real Madrid Academy, Port Harcourt) are ready to start this programme with these wonderful structures and also with the good pitch. It will be very interesting to see what they can do.

“I think the Governor has done great work and now they have to select the best players and bring some good players in a few years to the future,” said the 67-year old expatriate coach.

Aside from the outdoor facilities comprising of a football pitch and well-constructed swimming pool among others; Barrister Green took Rohr and his contingent round the academic blocks which house classrooms, staff rooms, student hostels, ICT rooms, Biology, Physics and Chemistry laboratories, Dining Halls and other meticulous provisions provided for in the well thought out structure.

Rohr specifically expressed delight in the academic aspect of the Real Madrid Academy.

“What I like is that it is not just football, but there is also the school side. There are teachers who will be coming because you are never sure to succeed in football and if you don’t succeed, there can be injuries, there can be other problems, it is good to have the school side also and that they did not forget it,” he said.

Eguavoen who has coached several Nigerian national teams in the past could also not hold back in his admiration while describing the quality of infrastructure put in place at the Treasure Base of the Nation.

“I am very impressed. What else can you ask for, for football development? Combining education with football is what we’ve been craving for and what we’ve come here to see today is wonderful, it is excellent and hopefully, we will gain from this in time to come.

“I don’t think any other academy will beat this (in Nigeria) except maybe if you come in here and you have an interest and are passionate about what you want to achieve and when you see this, you want to better this. But for now, I don’t think anyone will be able to better it,” he stated