Rivers United head coach, Yemi Olanrewaju, has counseled his gamers for his or her dedication and resilience after the Delight of Rivers ended the primary half of the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Soccer League (NPFL) season on the high of the desk.
Rivers United secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Rangers Worldwide on Sunday on the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, to conclude Matchday 19. Boluwaji Sholumade scored the decisive aim within the 52nd minute, heading house from a Ubong Friday help.
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The win leaves Rivers United on 37 factors from 19 matches, having recorded 10 victories, seven attracts and simply two defeats.
The Port Harcourt-based facet head into the mid-season break with a four-point lead over second-placed Nasarawa United.
Talking after the encounter, Olanrewaju, who’s standing in for head coach Finidi George, admitted the congested fixture schedule took a toll on the squad, notably in December, however praised the gamers for rising to the problem.
“I feel the boys want a break. Everyone wants a break as a result of everyone seems to be exhausted,” Olanrewaju stated. “Folks don’t actually perceive what we’ve been by this season.
“From December 3 to immediately, December 28, we performed 9 matches in simply 24 days. That’s quite a bit, and it’s not simple. Truthfully, it’s been loopy, however we managed to deal with it.”
“The gamers confirmed character and gave their finest in each sport. To lose only one match in that interval says quite a bit about their mentality.”
Olanrewaju additionally highlighted the challenges forward within the second stanza of the season, with Rivers United anticipated to compete on a number of fronts.
“The second spherical will probably be powerful. We’re nonetheless within the league race and in addition pushing on the continental entrance, so the video games will maintain coming. It’s essential that the gamers get pleasure from this break, get well correctly, and are available again stronger for the remainder of the season,” he added.
Rivers United will resume the NPFL marketing campaign within the new yr as they give the impression of being to keep up their lead and push for the league title.
