Rivers United midfielder, Obomate Frederick has spoken about his happiness after he was voted best performer in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) for February.<br /><br />The midfielder beat off competition from Abia Warriors attacker, Michael Olaha, Wasiu Jimoh (Shooting Stars Sports Club) and Lobi Stars&rsquo; &lsquo;goal machine&rsquo; Anthony Okpotu to emerge winner of the footballer&rsquo;s category of the League Bloggers Awards (LBA).<br /><br />Obomate says he&rsquo;s &ldquo;shocked but happy&rdquo; to have become the first player this season to scoop the prestigious award.<br /><br />&ldquo;I am shocked but very happy to win the award.<br /><br />&ldquo;Shocked because I was not expecting to win with so many good players in the league and happy because it means hard word is appreciated.<br /><br />&ldquo;This means a lot to me but it will not get into my head.<br /><br />&ldquo;I will continue working hard to improve and also help Rivers United get a continental position at the end of the season,&rdquo; he said.<br /><br />Obomate has scored in every game he has taken part in for United this season.<br /><br />He scored his maiden goal of the season against champions, Enyimba with a curling free kick from 25-odd yards as United prevailed 1-0 on February 21.<br /><br />The pint-sized midfielder was at it again three days later when he netted his side&rsquo;s consolation in the 1-2 loss to Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) FC in Lagos.<br /><br />Obomate ended the month on a high with a goal and an assist in United&rsquo;s 2-0 win over FC Ifeanyi Ubah on February 28.<br /><br />The former Sharks FC man missed his side&rsquo;s first game in March-a 1-2 reverse in Jos against Giwa FC-because of academic commitments but will return to the United match day squad for Sunday&rsquo;s league game against Nasarawa United.<br /><br /><b>Igho Kingsley</b><br />