Rivers United head coach Finidi George has made it clear: there is no room for caution, no space for excuses, only the need to win.
Speaking to the press ahead of the CAF Champions League return-leg clash against Zambia’s Power Dynamos in Uyo, the former Super Eagles winger laid bare his thinking as the Pride of Rivers look to revive a faltering continental campaign.
Rivers United have managed just one point from their opening group games, leaving them with little margin for error. But Finidi insists familiarity with the opposition and home advantage could tilt the balance in their favour.
“This is going to be our fourth game. We are playing at home,” Finidi said. “This is a team we played last week, so it’s still fresh in our memories.
“We don’t need to talk too much with the players. We just have to go in there, put in the hard work and make sure we get the maximum three points.”
With pressure mounting, the coach admitted that pragmatism will guide his approach. Style, he suggested, can wait; results cannot.
“At this point in time, it’s all about winning. If we can score more goals, I will sign it right away,” he said. “But I think we’ve been defending well.
“And when you defend well, you win games. I don’t know what the outcome will be tomorrow, but I can tell you we will go in there and give our all.
“If that means scoring one goal and defending well to keep it, we will do so. Of course, we want to score more goals, but if that is the end result tomorrow, I will take it.”
The wing wizard, in his heyday, also emphasised the collective nature of the task ahead, pointing to recent matches in which different individuals had stepped up at crucial moments.
“Football is a team sport,” he continued. “Today, it could be a midfielder that saves the day. The last match was the goalkeeper’s turn, and I think he did so well. We must commend him for that effort.
“But every game is different, different approach, different result, different man of the match. I hope tomorrow (Sunday) our goalkeeper will not be the man of the match. We need other players to step up.”
Beyond tactics and mentality, Finidi hinted at subtle gamesmanship. He noted the difficult pitch conditions in Zambia during the first leg and suggested Rivers United would ensure a contrasting surface in Uyo.
“We noticed the field was bumpy and dry,” he said. “Maybe they are used to playing on that kind of terrain, or maybe it was a strategy after watching us and knowing our capacity to pass the ball well.
“Tomorrow (Sunday), the field will be wet. Even if there is no rainfall, we will make sure there is water, so the circulation of the ball will be quicker.”
Confident but cautious, Finidi believes execution will be decisive.
“As a coach, you have to believe in your team’s ability,” he added. “We are playing at home, and the approach will be different. If the boys carry out what we talked about, I think we will have a good day.”
Team captain Temple Emekayi echoed his coach’s confidence and made a direct appeal to the fans ahead of the crucial fixture.
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“Tomorrow (Sunday), we want the fans to be behind us,” Emekayi said. “We want them to come out and support us fully, as they have always done.
“We are not going to let them down. We will come out, play a good game and get the three points.
The Rivers United must-win clash against Power Dynamos is billed for the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo at 5 p.m.
