Rivers United Technical Adviser, Finidi George, has revealed that Heartland FC used their ‘long throw weapon’ to unsettle his team in Sunday’s NPFL matchday 22 clash at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, Completesports.com reports.
Rivers United were constantly on edge whenever the five-time NPFL champions, Heartland, won a throw-in.
On one such occasion, Chijioke Opara’s long throw was punched marginally away from the 18-yard box, only for Christian Molokwu to meet it with a bicycle kick of extraordinary quality, firing the ball into the net for the Naze Millionaires’ opening goal.
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Speaking after the match, Finidi admitted that his side struggled to deal with Opara’s throw-ins, comparing them to the legendary Moses Otolorin’s famous long throws for IICC Shooting Stars (now 3SC), Ibadan, and the Green Eagles.
“It was a very physical game. It was a good match, but I think Heartland used their long throw weapon to unsettle us,” the former Ajax winger and UEFA Champions League winner said.
Finidi, a former Enyimba coach and ex-Super Eagles gaffer, added that his team must now focus on their upcoming matchday 23 fixture against Lobi Stars.
“This game is over now. We will have to go back home and prepare for our next match, which is against Lobi Stars,” he stated.
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Rivers United, currently third in the NPFL table with 35 points, have struggled for form since the resumption of the second stanza of the league. Two defeats—a 2-1 loss at Plateau United, a 1-1 draw at home against Bendel Insurance, and a 2-0 loss to Heartland—have put The Pride of Rivers’ title ambitions in jeopardy.
Similarly, Daniel Amokachi’s Lobi Stars are also struggling and will be desperate for an away win against Rivers United to revive their campaign.
By Sab Osuji
