Rivers United head coach Finidi George has explained why he started Timothy Zechariah as a left wide forward in Saturday’s win over Black Bulls, a decision that turned out to be a masterstroke.
Finidi led his side to a 3-1 win over the Mozambican champions at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, a result that sent the Pride of Rivers into the group stage of the CAF Champions League for the first time in their history.
Two of those three goals were of the making of the game’s Most Valuable Player, Zechariah, the team’s hitherto luckless centre forward that Finidi handed a different assignment, to destroy the Black Bulls defence from the flanks.
ACLSports Chief Football Writer Fisayo Dairo asked Finidi what the thinking behind that decision was and the Super Eagles legend opened the lid.
“We noticed that they (Black Bulls) play a 352 formation with wingbacks and there is always space to exploit in those areas where the wing backs are. So we thought that in a game like this, we needed a dribbler; at least someone that can take players on,” began Ajax.
“We have one or two injuries; Wisdom (Samuel) and others, that are real wingers so we thought of playing Timothy on the left side and we had to push Ubong (Friday) to the right side.
“We knew he has that ability, we knew he can dribble and we just told him to get to the box as quickly as he can and we are happy how he executed it.”
All set for the group stage
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will conduct draws for the group stage of the Inter Club competitions on November 3. Top African sides Al Ahly, Al Hilal, Mamelodi Sundowns etc have already booked their spots in the group stage alongside Rivers United.
When asked what to expect from his team in the group stage, Finidi says they will wait first for the draws before strategising on each game as they come.
“We’ll first of all see the draws, then we will take each game as it comes. When the draw comes out then we can prepare adequately and even we can also register one or two players.
“We know how difficult this tournament is so we will be searching to have maybe one or two additions to the squad so we will enjoy the qualification for now,” added the former Super Eagles coach.
Rivers United will return to domestic duties against Ikorodu City on Wednesday in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League game in Port Harcourt.
