AiteoCup: Consider the players in scheduling, says Eguma

Rivers United head coach Stanley Eguma says the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) must consider the health of players while scheduling matches in the Cup competitions, reports www.aclsports.com

Eguma’s side which lost further grounds on league leaders Akwa United on Sunday after a 1-1 draw in Port Harcourt now face a tough week during which they will play three games in five days.

United arrived Kaduna on Monday night where they will face Jigawa Golden Stars in the league on Wednesday before travelling to Abuja to face Niger Tornadoes in the Cup 48 hours later, a sad development for Eguma.

“It is really unfortunate that we have such a congested fixtures due to the Aiteo Cup. But I think the NFF should have considered our programme to give us a little respite at least for the players to gain some rests,” argued Eguma.

The Nigerian domestic football season faces a race against time to beat the August 8 CAF deadline given to the Nigerian league to send their continental representatives to the continental body.

Rivers United, who also played in the Confederation Cup this season are currently occupying the fifth position on the league table, just two points off continental places and are also in the Aiteo Cup quarter final.

Eguma, a former league and Cup winner says it is too tedious a schedule for his side.

“After playing on Sunday, we leave on Monday to Kaduna. After playing on Wednesday, we leave Kaduna to play in Abuja on Friday.

“After playing in Abuja, we now leave for Port Harcourt again to play a league match on Sunday. It is very very tedious, very very tight for the team and I think it’s not going to help our cause except the LMC and NFF do something about it,” he bemoaned.

Should United beat Niger Tornadoes in the quarter final, they face an even more hectic schedule in the final weeks of the season.