The first Sunday of October, and with it comes our first assignment of the new month. We have navigated the uncertainties of August and endured the battles of September, and now October greets us with a fixture worthy of the spotlight. This is not just another league game. It is a derby built on pride, ambition, and identity. It may not be a traditional regional rivalry, but when Enyimba and Rivers United meet, there is always more on the line than points.
Let us speak plainly. Rivers United aspire to be what Enyimba already is. That is why they do what they do. They pursue our players, they lure our coaches, and they build their ambitions around trying to match the standard we set. It did not start with Yema or Finidi. Remember Fatai Osho? Even their longest serving manager cut his teeth in Aba. History shows that when they look for direction, they look in our direction. And that is no accident.
But this game is about more than that. It is layered with personal stories and powerful emotions. Our coach, Stanley Eguma, once led Rivers United, only to be shown the exit. Today, he returns to face them from our dugout, determined to write a different chapter. On the opposite bench is Finidi George, who guided us to the 2023 league crown before leaving for a national assignment. At his side is Yema, once part of our own technical team. Fate has a way of weaving compelling scripts, and this one has all the makings of a classic.
There is another subplot too, the players. Several faces in the Rivers squad once wore our colours, and they will arrive with a point to prove. But we know what that looks like, and we are ready for it. The familiarity between these two sides adds tension, intensity, and emotion to a fixture that rarely needs any extra fuel.
Last season, Rivers United came to Aba and tried to impose themselves. This time, the script must change. We are unbeaten this season, just like they are, and we have no plans to surrender that record. But this is about more than records. It is about respect. It is about reminding them, and everyone else watching, that while others may imitate, there is only one Enyimba.
By 4 p.m., the gates of the Enyimba International Stadium will open, and the stage will be set. Come ready. Come loud. Bring the songs, bring the drums, bring the spirit. Make it a wall of blue noise that shakes the air in Aba and echoes all the way to Port Harcourt. Let Rivers leave with nothing but the sound of defeat ringing in their ears.
Victory is calling. And this time, we must answer.
EnyimbaEnyi!
