Rivers United captain Temple Emekayi has called on his teammates to remain focused and aim for maximum points as they prepare for a vital home fixture against Remo Stars this Sunday.
The Port Harcourt-based side head into the encounter at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on the back of two consecutive defeats—first to Bayelsa United and then to Beyond Limits FA—leaving the squad eager to reverse their fortunes.
In a message to his squad, Emekayi stressed the need to remain motivated despite their recent exit from cup competition, urging the players to turn their attention fully to the league campaign.
“I know it will take us a while to get going again, but what we are playing in the league should be enough to motivate us,” he told the club’s media.
The setback in the cup has not dampened Emekayi’s resolve.
The defender, known for his leadership on and off the pitch, remains confident that Rivers United can still achieve success this season—starting with a strong performance against the current league leaders.
“Every game is crucial now, it has been for a while. The league is very close and competitive,” he said, highlighting the intensity of the title race.
Rivers United, who have shown promise throughout the campaign, are aware that dropping further points at this stage could hinder their ambitions.
The team currently finds itself under pressure to bounce back against a Remo Stars side that has been consistent at the top end of the table.
Emekayi’s message was clear: the team must take each match as it comes, focusing solely on the immediate challenge before looking ahead to longer-term objectives.
“We want to win something, that’s our big goal. But we can’t look too far ahead; we have to take it step by step, match by match. Remo Stars is our next opponent, we have to prepare for that match, and then we’ll move on,” he concluded.
Sunday’s fixture is expected to be a stern test of Rivers United’s resilience.
With the captain setting the tone and urging his side to dig deep, the hosts will be hoping for a turnaround in form—and a much-needed statement performance in front of their home fans.
