CAFCC: Continental Experience Will Give Rivers United Edge - Eguma

  CAFCC: Continental Experience Will Give Rivers United Edge - Eguma .....Says Rivers United Will Vie For Domestic and Continental Honours By Taofeek LAWAL Rivers United coach, Stanley Eguma, has expressed the readiness of his club to challenge for titles both at domestic and continental fronts,, BSNSports.com.ng reports. The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, had last week lifted the ban on contact sports especially football in Nigeria. BSN Sports report that football activities was suspended globally in March this year as a result of the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease. Although admitting that the suspension of the league may affect the performances of Nigerian clubs in the CAF Champions League and the Confederations Cup, Eguma is optimistic that Rivers United will make Nigeria proud when the continental hostilities kick off in November. He added that the lifting of ban of football will however galvanised the club to shore up their training and preparations. In his words, "We all know that late preparation will not augur well for any good performance and that is what has been happening especially for teams that will vie for continental honours; they are the worst hit because continental matches will start probably by next month. November is almost here and unfortunately some of these teams are not training and they are going to compete on the continent and this is not good for Nigerian football. They may not have good performance in these competitions and things will be pretty difficult. But bringing football back will make things better for these clubs," Eguma, one of the longest-serving coaches in the Nigerian League said. Eguma, one of the most experienced coaches in Nigeria and who was a member Enyimba of Aba backroom staff when the People’s Elephant broke Champions League jinx for Nigeria in 2003 said the delay in resumption of football in Nigeria will not affect Rivers United's performance on the continent. "Even though the opening of football is coming a little bit late, but we understand from CAF calendar that by next month competition will start, the matches will start and it is a bit late but then we have to do our best, the management, the technical crew and the players will need to work round the clock to put the team in a competitive mood. While we thank the Federal Government and the NCDC for lifting ban of football, at Rivers United, we will not rest on our oars, we'll hit the ground running and ensure that we put finishing touches on whatsoever that is supposed to be done in the team. We believe we are going to get it right and make the country proud. The fact that we have been in the continent in the past is a big plus for us because we have learnt our lessons and we hope to correct those mistakes. We played up to the group stage in the Confederations Cup and that is the highest we have gone. Now, we hope to surpass that performance, go beyond the group stage and look at those areas we didn’t do well in the past and ensure that there is improvement. Also, the sponsors of the club are willing to do better than the past and we believe we won’t have problem."