Stanley Eguma has been relieved of his position as the Technical Manager of Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, side, Rivers United.
Eguma is understood to have been relieved of his duty with the Pride of Rivers while in Ikenne, moments after their rescheduled League match with Remo Stars.
It was equally learnt that on the eve of the match, a top member of the club’s management was detailed to convey to Eguma that should they lose the match, he would be relieved of his managerial responsibilities.
“And immediately after the match, the management hurriedly met and carried out their decision to relieve him of his job,” a club source confirmed.
Eguma, nicknamed ‘Capelo’, guided the club to the 2021 NPFL title win, and equally led the Pride of Rivers to second place finish in the 2016 domestic top flight, their first in the NPFL after sponsors, Rivers State Government merged Sharks FC and Dolphins FC to form what’s today known as Rivers United FC.
It was also the first NPFL title win by a Rivers-based side since the Dolphins’ feat in 2011. Eguma was also in charge of Dolphins when the club won the NPFL trophy in 2011.
In 2004, Eguma won the CAF Champions League with Enyimba in the capacity of Chief Coach with Okey Emordi as Technical Adviser.
With these rich credentials, Eguma leaves Rivers United in a blaze of glory after joining the club (then known as Dolphins FC) in 2008.
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Checks reveal that ‘Capelo’s’ exit climaxed a period of toxic intrigues in the club in recent time, leading to the hierarchy of the club asking him to step down after their 2-1 defeat by Remo Stars in Ikenne, in a rescheduled NPFL fixture.
Forces opposed to his reign in the club are understood to have resolved to make life difficult for him in recent time, leading to a ‘forced sick leave’, suspension but later recalled and now a summary sack.
It was learnt that Eguma’s gale of frustration in the club played a major role in their CAF Confederation Cup quarter final 2-0 (2-1 aggregate) defeat to USM Algiers after the club was outsmarted in the continent’s football political chess board.
With over 18 years of active service for Rivers State in either Sharks or Dolphins, and now Rivers United, Eguma is being jealously viewed as having ‘over-stayed’ without consideration to his result.
Now out of the club, it’s on record that Rivers United under Eguma succeeded in preserving Nigeria’s CAF inter club competitions four slots, two for CAF Champions League and two for CAF Confederation Cup.
In 2001, Eguma led Dolphins to win that year’s domestic Cup, The Coca-Cola FA Cup.
Under Eguma, Rivers United made three CAF Champions League appearances in 2017 and 2023.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, the club made four appearances in 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2023/24
By Sab Osuji
1 Comment
If the reasons behind his sack are political and selfish then they’ll be pay the price but if its football related(maybe because they feel he’s out of his depth tactically) then next season’s results will justify their decision.