Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt won the 2016 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) Super-4 Tournament just-concluded at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Sunday.
The Port Harcourt-side won the trophy with 6-points and three goals after winning two matches out of three matches it played in the tournament.
Rangers FC came second with 5-points and three goals after winning its first match and playing draw in the two other matches. Wikki Tourist FC of Bauchi came third with 4-points after winning a match, drawing one and losing another.
FC IfeanyiUbah, who forced Rangers FC to a 1 – 1 draw and spoiled the celebration of Rangers’ fans, trailed behind with one point it got from its match with Rangers. It lost two other matches.
Rangers’ Coach Imama Amapakabo, pleaded with angry Rangers’ fans over the loss of the trophy.
“It is a blessing in disguise that we did not win so that we know we still have a lot to work on.
“However, I would like to plead with our teeming fans to bear with us. At time football goes this way.
“But I would assure them a sharpened and battle ready Rangers in the new 2016/2017 NPFL season,’’ Amapakabo assured.
Rivers United FC’s Coach, Stanley Eguma, attributed the club’s victory to God.
“After our first match, where Rangers beat us 2 – 0; we decided to put more effort not to be last on the log table.
“We trained hard and prayed so that we will not go back to Port Harcourt with shame.
“However, as God will have it, Rangers FC was held to a 1 – 1 draw by FC IfeanyiUbah, which gave us this trophy,’’ Eguma said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that some Rangers fans wanted to beat up some Flying Antelope players but for the intervention of security personnel at the stadium.
They said it was unthinkable for Rangers not to defeat the least rated team in the tournament (FC IfeanyiUbah), who other teams in the tournament had beaten earlier in the week.
NAN
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