Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Rivers State Chapter, experienced a crushing defeat in a friendly novelty match against the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Portharcourt Branch.
SWAN Rivers’ Disappointing 3-1 Defeat: NBA Rivers Prevail
The match took place at the Sharks Township Stadium, and SWAN Rivers lost by a scoreline of 3-1.
The match was part of the activities organized to commemorate the 2023 NBA Week, and it was expected to be an exciting encounter between the two teams.
SWAN Rivers, led by their captain Tunde Bello, started the game with great intensity.
They displayed excellent ball control, dominating the midfield with players like Edwin, Oqwiy, and Tunde leading the charge.
However, fate seemed to be against SWAN Rivers when the NBA team seized a golden opportunity to take the lead.
A long ball from the defense caught SWAN’s backline off guard, aided by the wet playing surface at Sharks Stadium.
It landed perfectly in front of an NBA striker who attempted a delicate chip.
SWAN’s goalkeeper, Gabriel Wenatanya, managed to get a hand on the ball, but to the astonishment of the SWAN team, the referee judged that he had come off his line.
Consequently, Wenatanya was shown the first red card of the game. Reduced to ten men, SWAN Rivers had to endure a relentless onslaught from the NBA team.
The numerical disadvantage proved to be a significant setback for SWAN as their confidence waned.
The NBA team capitalized on this opportunity and took the lead just before halftime.
A defensive error resulted in the ball falling to Wisdom Sumoko, who executed a superb volley, giving the legal practitioners a valuable advantage going into the break.
In the second half, SWAN Rivers made strategic substitutions in an attempt to turn the tide of the game.
They were eventually awarded a penalty when their star striker, Tonye, was fouled in the box.
Victor Kwame Sampong, also known as Ghanaman, took the responsibility and scored from the rebound after his initial effort was saved by the NBA goalkeeper.
This goal provided a glimmer of hope for SWAN Rivers, but their defensive lapses proved costly once again.
A loss of concentration at the back allowed the NBA team to score a second goal, courtesy of a well-taken long-range free-kick by Wisdom Esewhin.
SWAN Rivers fought valiantly to find a late equalizer, but their efforts were in vain.
Another defensive mix-up resulted in Stephen Nwoko closing down the goalkeeper and sealing the victory for NBA Rivers with their third goal of the game.
In the aftermath of the disappointing defeat, Rivers SWAN Chairman, Sarah David, expressed her frustration with what she perceived as crucial refereeing decisions that affected the outcome of the match.
She called for a rematch, challenging the NBA to prove their victory once again.
Responding to the chairman’s comments, Ibim Benibo, the NBA Portharcourt Branch Chairman, stated that the win served as a dress rehearsal for the upcoming Annual NBA games later in the year.
SWAN’s team captain, Solomon Wokoma, graciously praised their opponents for their performance on the day and acknowledged that the novelty match could be considered a win for both sides.
However, Christopher Daniel, the coach from the SWAN Rivers bench, seemed unfazed by the result.
He attributed the loss to SWAN’s lack of early preparations and was not surprised by the outcome.
This defeat marks the end of an impressive unbeaten streak for SWAN Rivers, which had lasted for an astounding five years.
The team will now shift their focus to preparing for the Annual SWAN/Henry Kalio which is set to hold later in this year.
Be the first to comment on "Heartbreak for SWAN Rivers as NBA Rivers Claim 3-1 Victory"