Nigeria Sports Arena

  Festus Austin insists Rivers United will give their all in their final Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game against Akwa United on Sunday.   Currently second on the NPFL standings, United will fall short in their aspirations of winning the NPFL title if the leaders, Enugu Rangers claim a point at home to El Kanemi Warriors on Sunday.   Rivers United captain, Austin says getting a win in the club’s final game away to Akwa United will be crucial to the side’s chances of qualifying for the Caf Champions League next season.   “I want to appeal to the fans to still believe in us. It was disappointing that we failed to beat Abia Warriors in our last match but we just have to look ahead to our next game (Akwa United).   “I want to however assure the fans that we will go to Uyo (to get a result that will enable us to) qualify for the Caf Champions League.   “The fans must rally round the players as we will fig...

  Dolphins hard tackling central defender, Festus Austin says he is back training and is ready to get back on the pitch with the club once again.   Austin cracked his shin during a league game against Warri Wolves last year, two games after he returned from a yearlong injury.   He had cracked the same shin two years ago in a league game and was out of action for one year; then he returned for a league game in Enugu against Rangers International before cracking the shin one game later in Warri against Warri Wolves.   “I have started training on my own and I am right now waiting for the team doctor to give me the go ahead to join the players on the pitch.   “I will meet with him soon. I have just started gym work because I need to gain some strength pending when the doctor confirms I can go into full training,” Festus said.   The former Bendel Insurance defender said he first feared for his career when he was being taken off the pitch last year on...

Austin Fractured a bone in his shin late in the game against Warri Wolves on Wednesday at the Warri City Stadium in match day 28 of the Nigeria Professional Football League(NPFL). Incidentally, until further test reveal, it seems like the same fracture that kept him out for a full year. The game against Warri Wolves was his first start since he fractured his shin against Wikki Tourists on October 30, 2013. He was taken out of the stadium in an ambulance as soon as the incident occurred late in the game for first aid and preliminary care and on return to Port Harcourt was taken straight to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. After one year out with that fracture, Austin returned as a late substitute in the 2-1 loss to Rangers last week before starting against Warri Wolves where it re-occurred. The club wish him the best in his recuperation process