Rivers United resume training ahead of 2016/17 NPFL season

Forum 7 years ago

Rivers United resume training ahead of 2016/17 NPFL season

The Pride of Rivers have commenced training ahead of their continental and domestic assignments next season

Rivers United have resumed training for the 2016/17 Nigeria Professional Football League on Tuesday morning.

The 2015/16 league runners-up who will also be representing Nigeria in the Caf Champions League trained at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, the home ground of the club and the state’s sports commissioner, Boma Iyaye has urged the players to up their game in the coming season.

“On behalf of the sponsor of the team, the Rivers State Government, I want to welcome you back from your vacation,"Iyaye told Rivers United Media.

“However, this is time for hard work and I want to charge you all to realize that you are ambassadors of Rivers State and Nigeria as you will be representing this country in the 2017 Caf Champions League.

“I urge you all to display a high level of discipline and focus as you look to do Rivers State and Nigeria proud in the upcoming season."

The captain of the team, Festus Austine, on behalf of his colleagues appreciated the commissioner and vowed that the players would work hard always to justify the confidence reposed in them.

“We want to thank you honourable commissioner for your fatherly advice and also want to use this opportunity to express our appreciation to the Rivers State Government for the continued support to the club,"he continued.

“We will not relent ahead of the new season as we look to put smiles on the faces of Rivers people and Nigerians in general.

Meanwhile, general manager of the club, chief Okey Kpalukwu confirmed that a few of the players are still expected but assured that there would be a full house by Wednesday.

“I want to urge the few players who have not yet turned up to do so without further delay.

“Our time for preparations is quite short and we will need a full house before the next training session on Wednesday.