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NPFL: ‘Enugu Rangers will be ready for new season challenge’ – Fidelis Ilechukwu
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Head coach of Enugu Rangers, Fidelis Ilechukwu is confident his team will be ready for the 2023/2024 season challenge after two pre-season friendlies ahead of the Nigeria Premier Football League season.
Ilechukwu took his wards to Uyo for two preseason friendly encounters which ended in 1-1 draws, playing against the reigning Nigeria league champions, Enyimba as it took a late own-goal for the Peoples Elephant to draw level against the Flying Antelopes who took a first half lead through enterprising left-back, Philip Clement.
In the second encounter, One-Rocket also fought back gamely to earn a draw off Emmanuel Onotu scored a spectacular goal on 85 minutes to cancel out Kazeem Ogunleye’s 75th-minute easy tap-in.
“Looking at the game against Enyimba, I give it to them as they have been together for a longer period,” Ilechukwu told the club media team.
“At the same time, I commend my players for the way we played in containing them. But for the last-minute mistake, the result would have been there for all to see. We are still building and I am optimistic that we shall be ready to hold our own should the season kickoff today.
“Enyimba possessed more balls in the game but we created more scoring chances but took only one. For the match against F.C One-Rocket, it was also very interesting as we had to feature entirely new personnel and the NNL side pushed us back but with substitutions in the second half, we took charge of the game and went ahead but a little loss of concentration gifted the equalizer. In all, I am satisfied with the output of my players.”
Rangers will hope to improve on last season’s result as the team escaped relegation at the end of the regular season, two points above relegated Wikki Tourist.
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