Sunday Rotimi saved two penalties in a nervous penalty shootout as Rivers United progressed to the quarter finals of the Federation Cup on Wednesday following a 3-2 penalty victory over Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC). In a game of few clear cut goal scoring chances, defences dominated as regulation time failed to produce any goals. […]
via Rotimi’s Heroics Powers Rivers United Past 3SC — newfanzoneblog
Technical manager of Rivers United, Stanley Eguma must make a decision about his choice of goalkeeping personnel ahead of Saturday’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash with Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) in Ibadan.
Sunday Rotimi started United’s first five games this season but was overlooked for the match day six defeat to Niger Tornadoes in Lokoja.
Godwin Anyalogu, Rotimi’s replacement in Lokoja, impressed, despite conceding three goals and Eguma admits he has a decision to make as regards who starts in goal for United in Saturday’s contest against the ‘Oluyole Warriors’.
“It will be a difficult decision to make (as regards who plays against Shooting Stars) but I will wait till the last moment.
“It is a headache but a good one. Rotimi is excellent but I was also impressed with Anyalogu’s performance against Tornadoes.
“There is also (former Sharks goalkeeper) Henry Ayodele who has not played so far this season and he is one of the best goal keepers I have worked with.
“I will decide who plays (in Ibadan) on Saturday,” Eguma told RIVERS UNITED MEDIA.
Eguma also discussed his side’s failure to come up with the goods on their travels thus far despite emerging as the NPFL’s best goals scorers on the road this season.
He admitted that ‘mistakes’ have been made in previous games but insists that those errors have been corrected ahead of Saturday’s big game.
“The game against 3SC is a big one and we know that they have been doing well this season.
“We hope we can correct our mistakes (from previous matches) as we go to Ibadan.
“We will map out our strategies as we go to Ibadan for the game and ensure that we do not return empty-handed,” he said.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper, Anyalogu is still “angry” following his side’s failure to pick up any points from the match day six fixture against Torndoes in Lokoja.
The goalkeeper who conceded three goals in the fixture says United are “too strong to be losing this many games” this season.
“I am still angry that we lost in Lokoja (to Tornadoes). It was a very complicated game.
“We were the better side in the first half and had two very good chances to score. Unfortunately, we allowed them to score with the last kick of the half.
“It’s strange that despite scoring in all our matches this season, we have not managed to get a single point away from home this season.
“We are too strong to be losing this many games and now we must correct it when we face Shooting Stars on Saturday,” he said.
Anyalogu also discussed the relationship he enjoys with the club’s other goalkeepers, revealing that the camaraderie amongst them is something to be admired.
“There is no jealousy. After matches, we all sit together to critique the performance of whoever plays.
“It’s a good thing because the atmosphere is positive,” he said.
He rounded off by admitting that he would have no problems if he’s dropped to the bench for Saturday’s game.
“Have I done enough to start on Saturday? I think that is a decision for the coach but I will have no problems if (Sunday) Rotimi starts ahead of me.
“What is important to me is for the team to get at least a point in Ibadan.
“Losing two straight games will affect our position on the table so we must do our best,” he said.
Saturday’s game between 3SC and Rivers United kicks off at 4:15pm (5:15 CAT) and is live on SuperSport.
A late fight back from Rivers United fail to yield dividends as Nigeria Tornadoes prevailed by the odd goal in five in a tempestuous but hugely-entertaining Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) contest decided at the Lokoja Stadium on Sunday.
The big news from the United camp before kick off was the demotion to the bench, of former Super Eagles goal keeper, Sunday Rotimi with Godwin Anyalogu preferred in his place.
In Rotimi’s absence, United conceded three, for the first time this season but Anyalogu was not culpable for any.
In a first half that ebbed and flowed, both sides traded goal scoring chances with the hosts finally taking the lead in the third minute of stoppage time.
United defender, Gabriel Olalekan, who had proved to be his side’s best player of the half, inexplicably attempted a bicycle kick at the edge of his own half but inadvertently caught Ammeh Wilfred in the face.
Olalekan’s carelessness was to cost United as Ismaila Gata stepped up and curled home a beauty from 25 yards past a diving Anyalogu with what proved to be the last kick of a brilliant half of football.
The goal on the stroke of half time was a psychological blow which the United players failed to recover from as the luckless Olalekan diverted Gabriel Wassa’s long range effort past a stranded Anyalogu in the 58th minute for the hosts’ second goal.
Two-nil quickly became three-nil and remarkably, Olalekan was again at fault.
The former Sharks man mistimed a defensive header and Jackson Daniel smacked home at the second time of asking despite Anyalogu’s best efforts to keep out the strike.
The United trainer, Eguma responded by throwing in attacking substitutions which delivered rich and dramatic late rewards.
Daniel Israel and Guy Kuemian were thrown into the fray and they repaid their trainers’ faith with late goals that threw the cat among the pigeons among the Tornadoes faithful.
It proved to be too little, too late though an Ayobami Asekunowo expulsion, at the death, for a second bookable offence saw United’s late fight back end in yet another away defeat.
Tornadoes’ assistant coach, Bala Mohammed blamed ‘tactical mistakes’ for his side’s near capitulation of monumental proportions late on in the contest.
“We had some minor tactical errors especially from the action of our players when they lost the ball.
“After we got the third goal, our player got carried away; most of them.
“They only played when they had the ball and stopped playing when they did not.
“Rivers United then began dominating the midfield with four midfielders playing against our three and that was how they got their goals within a five-minute period,” Mohammed told RIVERS UNITED MEDIA.
On his part, the United technical manager, Stanley Eguma said he will try to ‘correct mistakes’ from their next league fixture.
“We started quite well but we conceded that goal from a free kick at the stroke of half time.
“In the second half, we conceded two quick goals as my players lost their heads.
“The good thing was the fight back but we will try to correct our mistakes from our next match,” Eguma said.
Overall, the game was a brilliant advert for Nigerian football with Tornadoes moving up four places up the standings to 11th place with seven points from six matches while United dropped two places and now occupy seventh place with nine points from six matches
Rivers United goal keeper, Sunday Rotimi is “obsessed” with keeping a clean sheet on Sunday when his side files out against Niger Tornadoes at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja.
United come into the match day six Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture in fine fettle having amassed nine points from a possible 15 this season.
The Port Harcourt club have also scored in every away game they have played thus far but Rotimi is more concerned with preventing opposition players from scoring against him.
The shot-stopper who has not missed a single minute of action for United this season insists his side must go for an outright win in Lokoja on Sunday.
“Yes, I am obsessed with (not letting in any goal) against Niger Tornadoes on Sunday.
“If I don’t concede, then we won’t lose. It is as simple as that,” the experienced goal keeper told Rivers United Media.
Rotimi concluded by analysing the reasons behind the losses United have recorded on the road this season.
“In Lagos (against MFM FC on match day two), we started too slowly and were lucky not to concede five goals in the first half.
“We recovered in the second half but had too much ground to cover.
“The game (against Giwa FC on match day four) in Jos was more complicated. I think we were better than them but certain things happened in that game which I just don’t want to remember.
“Now, we have to look ahead and approach this game against Tornadoes the right way.
“We are going there (Lokoja) to play for a win but to achieve that, we must play like champions,” he said.
Rivers United goalkeeper, Sunday Rotimi insists Giwa FC’s second goal against Rivers United in Wednesday’s match day four Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) contest at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos should have been disallowed.
David Sunday (the goal scorer) appeared to kick the ball out of Rotimi’s hands and into the net in the 71st minute but referee, Henry Ogunyamodi insisted that the effort was legal and would stand much to the chagrin of the veteran goal keeper.
“I was injured after the action because the ball was kicked out of my hands with great force.
“When I heard the referee’s whistle, I thought it was for a foul on the Giwa player but I was shocked that the referee awarded the goal.
“It is unfortunate but what can you do? We just have to move on,” he told the Rivers United Media.
Giwa FC trainer, Gbenga Ogunbote however shared a different view of the incident.
He accepted that Rotimi was in possession of the ball just before the goal was scored but added that the Rivers United goal keeper tried to “circumvent the rules of the game”.
“There is somebody (the referee) that controls the game. If he had said it was a goal, then it was a goal.
“If he had also said it wasn’t a goal, nobody would have questioned him.
“But I know too well that the rules say your two hands (as a goal keeper) must be with the ball.
“I think (Rotimi) was trying to prank the referee because he had just one hand on the ball.
“He was trying to circumvent the rules of the game. The referee was so close…he was just about four, five metres away from the scene and must have seen the right thing.
“I want to respect the judgement of the referee,” he said.
Wednesday’s win lifted Giwa FC to 14th on the league standings with four points from four games while United dropped four places and are now in seventh place with six points from their opening four games.
Lobi Stars v Dolphins
Kick Off: 4 pm, Nigerian Time
Date: Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Nigeria Professional Football League
Venue: Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi
Team News
Ghanaian import, Wilson Andoh may get his first start for Dolphins in Makurdi against Lobi Stars on Wednesday.
Andoh, who is an attacker, formerly played for Blessing Soccer Academy in Ghana and was among thirteen players signed in mid-season to beef up the team.
Ifeanyi Egwim lost his fitness battle once again after coming on as a second half substitute in the last game against Akwa United. He is out of this one.
However, Chiwendu Ali who last featured for Dolphins on Match Day 15 against El Kanemi in Katsina has returned.
He had been out with an ankle injury ever since and only returned to training two weeks ago.
Match Facts
When both sides met in Port Harcourt, Dolphins won 2-0 with goals from Sochuma Elum and Jonathan Zikiye.
Dolphins are yet to win any game on the road this season but have drawn four times, 2-2 against Bayelsa United in Oghara, 1-1 against FC Taraba in Jalingo, 2-2 against Kano Pillars in Kano and 1-1 against Enugu Rangers in Enugu.
In their last four meetings at Lobi, Dolphins have only been able to score one goal; in the 2-1 loss in 2011.
Head to head
NPFL 5/3/2015 Dolphins FC PH 2-0 Lobi Stars
NPFL 11/16/2014 Lobi Stars 1-0 Dolphins FC PH
NPFL 5/31/2014 Dolphins FC PH 3-1 Lobi Stars
NPFL 10/12/2013 Dolphins FC PH 1-0 Lobi Stars
NPFL 6/5/2013 Lobi Stars 1-0 Dolphins FC PH
NPFL 8/1/2012 Dolphins FC PH 0-2 Lobi Stars
NPFL 3/18/2012 Lobi Stars 2-0 Dolphins FC PH
NPFL 7/10/2011 Lobi Stars 2-1 Dolphins FC PH
NPFL 1/15/2011 Dolphins FC PH 1-0 Lobi Stars
NPFL 2/20/2010 Dolphins FC PH 1-0 Lobi Stars
Dolphins Match Day squad
Chidiebere Okolie
Wilson Andoh
Godwin Ayalogu
Chigozie Ihunda
Jonathan Zikiye
Godwin Obinze
Festus Austin
Isiaka Olawale
Oghogho Oduokpe
Christian Weli
Ebitimi Agogu
Sunday Rotimi
Onyekachi Akakem
Ebuka Nnaebue
Ayobami Asekunowo
Joseph Douhadji
Chiwendu Ali
Omoh Johnson
Dolphins’ new boy, Godwin Obinze could hide his excitement after Wednesday’s 1-0 win in Port Harcourt against Sunshine Stars.
Dolphins labored all game long and finally got their breakthrough in the 55th minute when full back, Jonathan Zikiye curled a free kick over the wall and beyond the reach of the goalkeeper.
“I am happy with this win because I see my football career as starting with Dolphins,” the former Yobo Academy player said.
“I have had three games so far, a draw, a loss and this win so I cannot hide my excitement.
“In fact I feel like taking off my shirt screaming and running away,” Obinze exclaimed.
But Godbless Asamoah got the first clear cut chance to put Dolphins up as early as the 16th minute when he rose highest to head a cross from Chigozie Ihunda but missed target by inches.
At the half hour mark, Oghogho Oduokpe was freed by an Isiaka Olawale pass but his shot sailed wide off the mark.
It was not all about Dolphins in the first half as the visitors had a chance to open scores in the 38th minute when a seemingly harmless was spilled by Sunday Rotimi but Musa Newman blasted the rebound wide off the mark.
In the last ten minutes of the game it was all about Sunshine Stars but a mixture of profligacy, clumsy attacking and luck ensured that the score line remained 1-0.
Sunshine Stars coach, Kennedy Boboye said after the game that his side came to Port Harcourt to get a win or draw but were unlucky.
“Dolphins did well, but we came here for a win or draw. We missed some chances but that’s football,” Boboye said.
Kick Off: 4 pm, Nigerian Time
Date: Wednesday, 19 August 2015
Nigeria Professional Football League
Venue: Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt
TEAM NEWS
Festus Austin, Sunday Rotimi, Ayo Saka and Godbless Asamoah return to Dolphins’ match day squad for the game against Sunshine Stars in Port Harcourt.
Festus Austin served a one match suspension for the game against Warri Wolves because he had picked up five yellow cards while Sunday Rotimi served the last of his three match suspension for his red card against Nasarawa United.
Godbless Asamoah was in Ghana for his wedding ceremony and only just returned to Nigeria and Port Harcourt on Saturday.
Ayo Saka was given the match in Warri off to rest his troublesome knee that has slowed him down this season.
As a result, Joseph Onwuga, Ifeanyi Egwim, Ayobami Asekunowo and Ebuka Nnaebue were left out.
Omoh Johnson is still out with a hamstring injury suffered in Ilorin against Kwara United while Chiwendu Ali (ankle) and Igwe Nwosu (Crack on the shin) are other injury absentees for the team.
MATCH FACTS
This fixture in Port Harcourt on Match Day 4 ended 2-1 in favour of Sunshine Stars after Chiwendu Ali put Dolphins ahead in the first half.
Dolphins have lost at home this season to Enyimba 3-1 and have failed to win 6 other games against Kwara (0-0), Warri Wolves (0-0), Sharks (1-1), Giwa (1-1), Wikki (1-1), Abia (1-1).
Dolphins form in last six matches
16/08 NPFL Warri Wolves A 1-0
09/08 NPFL Abia Warriors H 1 – 1
05/08 NPFL Kwara United A 2 – 1
02/08 NPFL Nasarawa United H 3 – 1
18/07 NPFL Nasarawa United A 1 – 0
15/07 NPFL Shooting Stars H 1 – 0
Head-to-head with Sunshine Stars FC
Premier League 2015
Sunshine Stars Dolphins 2:1 19.04.2015
Premier League 2014
Sunshine Stars Dolphins 0:0 17.08.2014
Dolphins Sunshine Stars 2:1 29.03.2014
Premier League 2013
Sunshine Stars Dolphins 3:0 11.08.2013
Dolphins Sunshine Stars 1:1 28.03.2013
Premier League 2012
Sunshine Stars Dolphins 1:0 13.06.2012
Dolphins Sunshine Stars 1:0 07.01.2012
Premier League 2011
Sunshine Stars Dolphins 3:2 23.10.2011
Dolphins Sunshine Stars 1:0 05.02.2011
Dolphins FC Match Day Squad
Godwin Ayalogu
Isiaka Olawale
Israel Abia
Joseph Douhadji
Victor Ezuruike
Christian Weli
Ebitimi Agogo
Chigozie Ihunda
Godwin Obinze
Oghogho Oduokpe
Chidiebere Okolie
Onyekachi Akakem
Jonathan Zikiye
Festus Austin
Sunday Rotimi
Ayo Saka
Godbless Asamoah
Daniel Victor
Dolphins returned to losing ways away from home as they fell 1-0 to FC Ifeanyi Ubah in the Nigeria Professional Football League, match day 12
Onyedikachi Uchechukwu crossed into the box and Solomon Eludi headed home on 44 minutes for the only goal of the game.
Sunday Rotimi was in the form of his life saving Dolphins from an embarrassing defeat time and time again in both halves of the game.
The biggest culprit on the Dolphins side was substitute, Chigozie Ihunda, who came on in the 2nd half but failed to score midway in the half when he beat the off side trap of the home side, yet blasted wide with just the keeper, Chidi Eze to beat.
After the game, coach of FC Ifeanyi Ubah said he was happy because this is the first time his team has played well.
“I’m very happy because this is the first time my team has played good football.
“The three points was also important to me,” Dobrev said.
Stanley Eguma of Dolphins said his players lost concentration to conceded the goal.
“It’s a game we never expected to lose. It’s a game we should have won or at least drawn but that moment of loss of concentration caused us to concede that goal,” Eguma said
Nigeria Federation Cup Round of 64
Dolphins FC v Inter FC
Time: Kick Off 4pm
Venue: U.J, Esuene Stadium, Calabar
Date: May 13, 2015
TEAM NEWS
Dolphins return to the Federation Cup today, May 13, 2015, a cup they have won four times previously in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 200t.
Dolphins were also Federation Cup finalists in 2014 when they lost to Enyimba, 201 in the final.
In the spirit of continuity and blending, Stanley Eguma has taken fifteen of the players that got a draw in Oghara last Sunday to Calabar for this game against FC Inter.
Only Godbless Asamoah, Chidiebere Okolie and Ayobami failed to make the match day squad from the game in Oghara.
Ayobami and Okolie both hobbled off injured during the game in Oghara, while Asamoah didn’t make it on technical grounds.
They have been replaced by Daniel Victor, Kingsley Ashu and Igwe Nwosu.
Igwe Nwosu, who was with Dolphins feeder team may make his debut for the club if he gets to play against Inter FC on Wednesday.
MATCH PREVIEW
Since the Federation Cup took the straight knock out structure, Dolphins have been knocked out at this stage, once, in 2013.
The game was against Akwa Starlets in Umuahia and after 90 minutes finished 0-0, Dolphins lost the resultant shoot out 4-2.
In 2014, Dolphins also played a fellow Enugu based club at this stage of the competition, Ingas FC and it ended 3-1 for Dolphins, goals from Emem Eduok, Ifeanyi Egwim and Ebube Okpokwu.
Recent form
Last five matches
5/10/15
Bayelsa United FC 2 – 2 Dolphins FC
7/5/15
Dolphins 0-0 Warri Wolves
5/3/15
Dolphins 2 – 0 Lobi Stars FC
4/26/15
Akwa United 2 – 0 Dolphins
4/22/15
Dolphins 1 – 0 Enugu Rangers
HEAD TO HEAD
Dolphins have never played against FC Inter
Match Day Squad
Sunday Rotimi
Godwin Ayalogu
Victor Ezuruike
Festus Austin
Jonathan Zikiye
Onyekachi Akakem
Rufus Ebue
Chiwendu Ali
Joseph Doujhadji
Emeka Atuloma
Igwe Nwosu
Ayo Saka
Daniel Victor
Omoh Johnson
Ifeanyi Egwim
Sochuma Elum
Kingsley Ashu
Isiaka Olawale
Dolphins coach, Stanley Eguma insists it is time for his side to move up the log.
Following their draw in Oghara yesterday against Bayelsa United, Stanley Eguma first regretted the two points dropped saying it is a game his side should have won.
“Our plan was to win the game, but while we were scoring, the opponents were equalizing.
“We need to work harder so that we climb up the log. It is something we can do,” Eguma said.
Dolphins went ahead in the 33rd minute of the game when Emeka Atuloma scored from an easy tap in after Bayelsa United’s goalkeeper, Paul Godwin failed to hold a cross.
In the 55th minute, Eric Frimpong equalized for the home side, scoring from a tight angle.
In the 65th minute, Chidiebere Okolie put Dolphins 2-1 up after he took out 2 markers on the right flank and curled the ball beyond the reach of the goalkeeper to silence the fans at the stadium.
But Bayelsa United were not done as Azubuike Okechukwu managed to get his shot from 30 yards in the net after it was deflected in.
A weakened Bayelsa United coach, Solomon Ogbeide who was sacked a few hours later described the goals conceded as bad for his team.
“Some percentage of football is luck. We did our best. We had chances and couldn’t concert them.
“The goals we scored were actually not good and I was not happy about how we applied defensive principles there,” Ogbeide said.
Dolphins have since returned to Port Harcourt from where they will depart to Calabar on Tuesday for Wednesday’s Federation Cup game against Inter FC of Enugu.
Dolphins rescue accident victims
Meanwhile, on our way back from Oghara, just before Warri, our players rescued the make victim of an accident off the East/West road.
The victim, male, admitted he fell asleep on the steering wheel and his Honda car skidded off the road and was a few feet away from entering a river when some bamboo sticks stopped its further progress.
We stopped our bus, and our players, team secretary and Camera man, along with some passerby who also stopped helped get the car out.
Our bus driver, Wada, drove the car out and the other pushed.
Luckily the driver of the car was not harmed and there was not much damage on the vehicle.
You can visit http://www.youtube.com/dolphinsfctv to was a video of the incident or click this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPrteG1KI30
Former Rangers and Sunshine Stars goalkeeper, Godwin Ayalogu will make his Dolphins debut on Sunday in Oghara against Bayelsa United.
Ayalogu joined Dolphins at the start of the 2014/15 season but is yet to get a game despite being in the match day squad a couple of times.
By this Sunday Rotimi fails to start his first game for the club this season. Rotimi starts from the bench.
Omoh Johnson also gets a rare start for Dolphins as he has been named in Stanley Eguma’s starting line up.
Chidiebere Okolie Okolie also gets his first start this season.
Dolphins start list
25. Godwin Ayalogu
6. Ayobami Asekunowo
26. Jonathan Zikiye
8. Emeka Atuloma
19. Festus Austin
5. Joseph Douhadji
3. Chidiebere Okolie
18. Onyekachi Akakem
24. Omoh Johnson
29. Ayo Saka
11. Chiwendu Ali
Subs
22. Sunday Rotimi
16. Rufus Ebue
31. Victor Ezuruike
17. Godbless Asamoah
7. Isiaka Olawale
32. Daniel Victor
13. Ifeanyi Egwim
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