A big win over the Tourists in Port Harcourt could see
sixth-placed United go top of the NPFL standings (if other results go their
way) for the first time this season.
It seems more of a possibility rather than wishful thinking
as all five sides above United on the NPFL log navigate banana-skin road trips
on match day 16.
However, claiming the scalp of the visitors will be no easy
feat.
In head coach, Abdul Maikaba, Wikki Tourists can boast of a
purist, a lover of aesthetic football, whose side play the positive way.
A well-known FC Barcelona fan, Maikaba has instilled the
principle of possession based football in his side.
“Our coach (Maikaba) is an FC Barcelona fan. He insists that
we keep the ball on the ground and pass it from the back.
“He hates long passes with a passion and wants us to have
more possession than our opponents irrespective of where we play,” Tourist
striker, Godwin Obaje said to Rivers United Media.
Maikaba has the individuals blessed with the talents to play
a possession-based game.
In Emeka Nwabulu, Waziri Christopher, Harrison Madu, Peter
Ambrose, Guda Mohammed and striker, Obaje, Maikaba has a solid core of a
talented team.
Obaje has turned more than a few heads this term and is the
league’s top scorer with eight goals.
“I have not set any target for myself as regards the number
of goals I want to score this season.
“All I try to do is contribute my quota, continue scoring
the goals and see that I help my team achieve our objectives at the end of the
season.
“The good thing about our team is that most of the players
have been together for more than two seasons and we understand how our coach
wants us to play.
“I personally don’t know anything about Rivers United
because I have not watched them play this season,” Obaje said.
Rivers United are slight favourites to win going by their
recent form which has seen them win two games on the bounce for only the second
time this season.
In Bernard Ovoke, United have probably the league’s most
inform attacker (the former Bayelsa United man has scored three goals in his
last two games).
United attack with verve and purpose but their strongest
point is probably a water-tight defence that has yet to ship in a goal scored
by an opposition player at their fortress-the Yakubu Gowon Stadium-venue for
Wednesday’s game.
Right back (and auxiliary striker in recent games), Chigozie
Ihunda will miss out on the game though as he is yet to recover from a knee
injury he sustained in the 1-0 win over Warri Wolves on Sunday.
Ihunda’s absence is one that United’s technical manager, Stanley
Eguma has described as a big blow.
“It is a very big blow for us because Ihunda has been a very
key member of the team.
“Losing him now is a big problem for us but then, we have
other players in the team that can take over.
“We didn’t build the team around any one player. “We will miss Ihunda but it is not going to
affect our performance,” Eguma said.
There is however good news across the horizon as strikers,
Wilson Andoh and Guy Kueian both return from injury.
Eguma will be looking to mastermind a third consecutive win
for his side for only the first time this season with success on Wednesday.
Wednesday’s game between the two sides promises
to be an exciting affair full of flair and technique with the stakes as high as
can be.
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