It’s a fact that seven time Nigerian league champions and one time continental champion, Rangers International F.C of Enugu are yet to find the back of the net of their host in Nnewi since the Billionaire owned club started rubbing shoulders with top clubs.
However, coach Olugbenga Ogunbote and his wards look set not to only start scoring in Nnewi but to run away with all maximum points in the last but one ‘Oriental Derby’ in the first round of the season inside the magnificent F.C Ifeanyiubah international stadium, Ozubulu Road, Nnewi, Anambra state.
Smarting from dropped points in their last two league outings in Minna and Enugu, the ‘Flying Antelopes’ have their backs against the wall and are fired up to do the needful in Nnewi as a group, ‘Workable Partners for Gburugburu 2019’ have placed half a million naira ‘N500,000.00’ on the table for the team to get a victory on the road.
Before the team departed Enugu for Nnewi, the got some encouraging words from the GM/CEO, Prince Davidson Owumi, reminded the players of other promises still waiting for them to collect as soon as they achieve the win in Nnewi.
Away from the promises, coach Ogunbote who have come out unscratched in the previous three ‘Oriental Derbies’ is likely to juggle his team a little to achieve the desired result in the encounter to help steady the ship as it sail to its target of emerging champions at the end of the season.
Comparatively, host’s F.C Ifeanyiubah have been in devastating form over their last two games at home scoring six and getting breached once while Rangers last two road trips fetched them a draw and a loss in Omoku and Minna.
Some of the expected gladiators for the ‘Coal City’ outfit are full of hope going into this encounter as exemplified by attacking sensation turned defender, Tope Olusesi, “We missed a couple of chances in the first half against Kwara United and they came out stronger in the second half. We apologise to our fans and wish to assure them that we will make it up in Nnewi.”
“That game is a must win for us. It is an Oriental Derby and we will put all our best to come home with the maximum points. We have a good record in Oriental Derbies. We won in Owerri, drew in Umuahia and beat Enyimba. We will brush the Anambra Warriors (FC Ifeanyiubah) aside. We will make them look like mere toy warriors and get Rangers back to gunning for the title,” Olusesi assured further.
Nigerian born Benin Republic senior international and former FC Ifeanyiubah defender, Isaac Loute, who is now defending the colors of Rangers, said he has had a good season and they are in Nnewi to recover the points they dropped at home to Kwara United.
Rangers will be missing the services of Christian Madu, Abu Azeez, Nana Bonsu and Chiamaka Madu but will find adequate replacement in James Aiyeyemi, Godwin Zaki, Semiu Liadi, Godwin Aguda and a host of others that made it back from injuries.
For the host, there will be no missing the acrobatics of Ivorien shot stopper, Drissa Bamba with compatriot, Yaya Kone pulling the strings in attack with Seka Pascal and Chijioke Alakwe.
Last six outings for both clubs:
FCIU:
MATCH DAY 16 – FCIU 3-1 Sunshine Stars
MATCH DAY 15 – Kano Pillars 4-0 FCIU
MATCH DAY 14 – FCIU 3-0 Plateau United
MATCH DAY 13 – El-Kanemi 1-0 FCIU
MATCH DAY 12 – FCIU 1-1 Abia Warriors
MATCH DAY 11 – Rivers United 1-1 FCIU
RANGERS:
MATCH DAY 17 – Rangers 0-0 Kwara United
MATCH DAY 16 – Niger Tornadoes 1-0 Rangers
MATCH DAY 15 – Rangers 3-0 Yobe Desert Stars
MATCH DAY 14 – Go Round 2-2 Rangers
MATCH DAY 12 – Rangers 1-0 Enyimba
MATCH DAY 11 – Sunshine Stars 1-1 Rangers.
