Rivers United winger Bolaji Sakin hopes to make a return from injury in time for his team’s final two games in the 2016/17 Nigeria Professional Football League season.
Sakin has been sidelined for five weeks with a knee injury he suffered in United’s 0-1 loss to Sunshine Stars at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt on Match Day 30. Sakin was replaced by Emeka Ogbugh late in the first half of that game and has since watched his team helplessly flirt with relegation.
“My recovery has gone well. I will resume full training next week and I hope to play the last two games of the seasons,” Sakin told ACLSports on Wednesday.
United defeated former league champions Enyimba 2-1 on Sunday to enhance their chances of surviving an ignominious drop to the second tier of Nigerian league football. The victory took Stanley Eguma’s men to 11th on the log, although still two points clear of the relegation zone. Sakin however remains confident his side will stay up by the end of the season.
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“I am confident we will escape relegation. Our recent wins have helped us a lot and we are going to sustain the momentum. With the support of everyone surrounding the team, we will make it,” the former Abia Warriors attacker assured.
United’s last three games of the season will see them travel to Champions-in-waiting Plateau United this Sunday before games against Gombe United and Abia Warriors. Sakin is specifically looking forward to the final game of the season at his old stumping ground in Umuahia.
“Playing at Umuahia will be like playing at home,” said Sakin with a feeling of nostalgia.
“I really love the team (Abia Warriors) and their fans are amazing. It will be a great feeling playing against my friends on that final day.”
