It is going to be a gritty affair in the NPFL Week Six fixture as Shooting Stars Sports Club welcome the visiting Rivers United FC at the Lekan Salami Stadium Adamasingba, Ibadan. The match is billed to commence at 4:00 pm on Sunday 5th of February, 2016.
Both teams are on the extremes of the log after five weeks into the season. While the homers, Shooting Stars are currently occupying the 19th position on the log with 4 points in 5 matches, Rivers occupies the 5th position with 3 draws and 2 wins accordingly.
Three losses on the road, a win and a draw at home is not making the home fans comfortable and this is already putting more pressure on the team of blended old and young players. The effects of the club's last 0-2 away loss to ABS in Ilorin are still permeating in the air and the fans are not ready for more excuses, hence, Sunday encounter must be able to crunch out a win for the Oluyole Warriors.
A check on activities in the team camp reveals a full house with the return of injured players. The likes of Skipper Seun Akinyemi, Jide Apena, Ayobami Junior and Najeem Olukokun are fully fit and which will provide the coaches enough options for selections.
However, the only thing on the mind of the Fatai Amoo led crew is to get a winning squad that would stop the spate of Rivers United runs on the Oluyole Warriors in the out gone season. Shooting Stars won one of their three games last season against the Port Harcourt side and this time the tide must change.
For Rivers United FC, they have enjoyed an encouraging run going by their present position on the log, and this would boost their confidence coming to Ibadan on Sunday; they have been unbeaten with two home wins and three away draws in the last five games.
Rivers United would be mindful of their poor records in Ibadan over the years which might spur them to working extra hard to survive the scare of the homers who by far, would be charged to change their dwindling fortunes.
The fans will be delighted to welcome back two ex-Shooting Stars players with the Port-Harcourt side to Adamasingba. Goalkeeper Abiodun Akande and defender Lekan Gabriel are now with Rivers United and their team would seek a positive response to neutralize any onslaught from their hosts.
Interestingly, the two teams are in for good battle as time ticks for one of the exciting fixtures of the week.
LAST MEETINGS.
*Shooting Stars 1-0 Rivers United 0 (1st leg) *Rivers United 2-0 Shooting Stars 0 (2nd leg) *Rivers 3-2 Shooting Stars (Fed Cup Penalty SO)
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