Rivers United to prepare for CCL in Madrid

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club, Rivers United will prepare for the 2017 CAF Champions League in Madrid, Spain.

The announcement was made on Saturday by the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike (CON).

Governor Wike, a Real Madrid CF fan, explained that the move was geared towards exposing the team to state-of-the-art facilities and international exposure ahead of their maiden expedition in Africa’s premier club competition.

“I want Rivers United to win the 2017 CAF Champions League title and to facilitate this, I want to see that our boys are exposed by going for their training outside the country.

Rivers United

“The team will go to Madrid because Real Madrid has a culture of winning titles on a consistent basis.

“We are proud of you and will do everything to equip you for the CAF Champions League,” Governor Wike said at a grand reception/dinner in honour of the team at the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.

Rivers United finished in second place in last season’s NPFL with 60 points from 36 matches.

Governor Wike To Cheer Rivers United Against 3SC

The Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike (CON) is expected to attend the highly anticipated Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match between Rivers United and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) in Port Harcourt on Sunday, July 17.

The ‘Pride of Rivers’ and the ‘Oluyole Warriors’ go head to head at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium from 4 pm on Sunday and the Chief Executive of Rivers State will be on hand to cheer United to victory.

It will be the first time this season that Governor Wike will be watching Rivers United live in person in an NPFL game.

Governor Wike’s love for sport and football is however well documented as he was live at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium to cheer Nigeria’s U23 football team to a 2-1 win over Congo in an Olympic qualifier on July 19, 2015.

The Governor’s love for football has also seen the Super Eagles virtually adopt Port Harcourt as their new home as exemplified by the friendly game Niger Republic on September 8, 2015 and a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Swaziland on November 17,2015.

Both games were played at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.

Governor Wike and Joseph Yobo at the Joseph Yobo Testimonial held in Port-Harcourt

Most recently, Governor Wike showed great support for the ‘beautiful game’ as the Joseph Yobo Testimonial held in Port Harcourt with Rivers State playing host to the national and international community for the umpteenth time with distinction.

Sunday’s game between Rivers United and 3SC will be live on SuperSport select.

GOV. WIKE APPOINTS YOBO AS SPECIAL ASSISTANT By Akeem Busari

Coming quickly on the heels of his well attended testimonial game, the former captain of the Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo has been appointed by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, as the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on sports development.

According to Simeon Nwakadu, Special Assistant to the governor on electronic media, the appointment takes immediate effect.

Joseph Yobo
photo credit: @jyobo234

Yobo who is credited with over a 100 caps for the Super Eagles, had his official testimonial game last Friday in Port Harcourt, with former colleagues and friends like Samuel Eto O’Fils, Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Vincent Enyiama and several other distinguished ex footballers in attendance.

WIKE TO SCORE FIRST GOAL AT #YOBOTESTIMONIAL

Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike will score the first goal of the #YoboTestimonial which takes place at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt this Friday.

Yobo, in whose honour the game is being played, said instead of the usual ceremonial kickoff, there will be a ceremonial penalty, to be taken by the governor against former Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama

“Governor Wike is a man of unique qualities, so it is only right that we give him the distinction of opening this special game in a unique fashion,” the former Nigeria captain said.
“Although he is great goalkeeper and a great penalty saver, I don’t think that Enyeama can stop that penalty.”

A host of international stars and former Nigeria players will be in Port Harcourt for the match, which follows last weekend’s international golf tournament and Yobo says it is a credit to the Wike administration that the state is hosting major events without any incidents

Governor Nyesom Wike Of Rivers State

“High profile events and people are coming to Rivers State and it is a credit to the governor that all these events are happening in peaceful circumstances.”

Kickoff for the game is at 4PM and it is live on SuperSport 3HD and SuperSport 9.