Rivers United assistant coach Yemi Olanrewaju says the club are focused on accumulating as many points as possible rather than protecting their unbeaten record as they seek to improve on last season’s performance in the Nigeria Premier Football League, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

“For us, we are not even looking at the unbeaten run; it doesn’t really matter. We just want to get as many points as possible,” Olanrewaju said in a chat with the club’s media.

“The key thing for us is not to concede. If you don’t concede, you can’t lose a game. That’s our philosophy.”

Olanrewaju spoke after Rivers United played out a goalless draw against Barau FC in their Matchday Nine encounter in Port Harcourt. The match, which began on Sunday, was interrupted by heavy rainfall and concluded on Monday, October 19, with neither side finding the net.

The result left Rivers United as the only unbeaten team in the league, having recorded four wins and five draws from nine matches.

Reflecting on the team’s ambitions for the season, Olanrewaju acknowledged the pressure on the club to improve on last campaign’s performance.

“I think we are prepared; this is Rivers United. The pressure is on us to do well this season, more than we did last season,” he said.

The Port Harcourt club will next face Bendel Insurance in a South-South derby at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Sunday, October 25, as they seek to extend their unbeaten run.

Bendel Insurance recorded a 4-1 victory over Barau FC on October 4 before suffering a 2-1 defeat to Sporting Lagos on October 11. Their scheduled fixture against Rangers International on October 18 was postponed.