Eguma Rues Rivers Utd’s Missed Chances against KCCA
Duro Ikhazuagbe
Technical Manager of Rivers United FC, Stanley Eguma, is angry with his wards for squandering too many scoring chances during their Group A CAF Confederation Cup clash with Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) FC last Tuesday evening in Port Harcourt.
While reacting to the slim 2-1 defeat of the Ugandan team yesterday, Eguma told www.riversunitedfc.com.ng that Rivers United missed five goals in the first half alone.
“I am very very angry that we did not score more goals because we could have scored four or five in the first half alone.
“The goal they scored was against the run of play and the (Rivers United) defence was sleeping on that occasion,” observed the former Dolphins gaffer.
For the many missed chances, Eguma stressed that he hopes United will not pay dearly for it because goals difference may be used to decide which teams progress to the quarter finals.
“This is a very tough group that could well be decided by goals difference because the four teams have won every game they have all played at home and are all on six points respectively.
“When you have the opportunity to improve your goals difference like we did (on Tuesday), you just have to take.
He however insisted that United cannot afford to lose its last two games of the group.
“Our next two games will perhaps (represent) our two toughest games so far. We cannot afford to lose (either) of those two games but we must win at home against Club Africain and at the very worst, get a draw in Morocco against FUS.
“It will not be easy but we want to qualify for the quarter finals and we have to do this to achieve it,” Eguma concluded.
KCCA’s Head Coach, Mike Mutebi, admitted that United was the best team of the Tuesday clash at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium.
“We (KCCA) have a way that we play. We did not come to Port Harcourt to park the bus because we know that the fans want to watch good football.
“I think that the most effective team won on Tuesday because they got their chances and took them well.
“Of course, we are disappointed but we lost in a manner that is not discouraging.
“Rivers United were very effective when they got their chances and they tucked them away.
“Yes, the early goal that Rivers United scored affected my side.
“We were playing away from home and they scored (two) early goals in the first 15 minutes.
“Rivers United were all over us and they scored while we panicked.
“It disorganised us but it did not really fazed us to start playing defensively because we continued to play our way,” he stressed.
“I am satisfied with our performance and I say kudos to Rivers United; they played well and effectively and that was the difference.”
Bernard Ovoke put Rivers United in front after 54 seconds and Obomate second added the second for the ‘Pride of Rivers’ 13 minutes later.
Geofrey Sserunkuma scored for the ‘Kasasiro Boys’ (garbage collectors) on the stroke of half time as the Nigerian side exerted revenge on the reigning Ugandan double champions following their 2-1 win in the reverse fixture in Kampala 17 days earlier.