The lush turf of Awka City Stadium, Awka, Anambra State, will this weekend play host to one of the most interesting club football contests as Rangers International F.C. play host to the ‘Sai Masu Gida’, Kano Pillars F.C. in a match day 5, NPFL 2023/2024 fixture today.
Smarting from a deserved 1-1 draw over the weekend in Ilorin, the coach Fidelis Ilechukwu tutored side will be laying an ambush for the visiting Kano side that is led by the immediate past coach of Rangers, Abdul Maikaba, to enhance the realisation of the club’s target for the season.
With seven points from four matches already prosecuted, scoring six goals and conceding five, coach Ilechukwu and his lieutenants have been taking the players through various drills to put them in the best shape to ensure that supporters of the club smile at the end of the encounter against Kano Pillars that have amassed six points after four games scoring twice and conceding the same number of goals.
Ilechukwu, who will be missing the services of midfielders, Naziru Auwalu, Kalu Nweke, and Chinemerem Ugwueze due to injuries and bereavement, is optimistic about the outcome of the encounter even when he would want the performance of his wards on the pitch to speak for him stressing, “The match is like any other game in the league and we are not attaching anything to it but just up our game get the result we want with luck on our side. We respect every team and don’t look down on any team or manager. We shall work harder than we did in Ilorin with a positive mindset from the bench and those on the field.”
With the return of attacking sensation, Kingsley Maduforo to the match day squad, as well as the breaking into the squad for the Pillars challenge of Chinedu Ibe-Agwu and Wilfred Dieke, the coaching crew, is spoilt for choices just as the usual figures of Kazeem Ogunleye, Ifeanyi Ogba, Ejike Ugochukwu, Joel Odoh, and others will be available to defend the colors of the ‘Flying Antelopes’.
Former top scorer in the league, Godwin Obaje, while taking a look at the fixture, said, “We are physically and psychologically prepared for this encounter against Kano Pillars which I believe will be challenging. Motivation is on the high and against our former coach, I am optimistic of our coming out winners.”
With 11 wins apiece for both gladiators on the pitch and five drawn matches in 27 between 2011 and 2023, with the October 24, 2018, Aiteo Cup win and loss still fresh in the minds of supporters of both teams, fans are assured of a quality display from both teams.
Meanwhile, Rangers’ mercurial midfielder, Ugochukwu Ugwuoke, has been discharged from the private medical facility in Enugu where he went through the surgeon’s knife to correct a knee injury that has kept him out of action for nearly two seasons.
Ugwuoke who marched out from the facility with the aid of clutches went through a successful knee injury three weeks back and was certified okay by the lead doctor of the surgery for him to go home on Thursday, from where he would be monitored through the rehabilitation period.
A highly relieved Ugwuoke was full of praise to the management of Rangers International F.C. for their show of love and true professionalism in helping him get over the injury.
“I highly appreciate the concern and show of love from Rangers management over this injury that has denied me great opportunities in my career. Thank God the surgery went well and I am sure that I will be back very soon. I also thank my fans who have been there in prayers and those who visited me in the hospital. I am very grateful,” said Ugwuoke.
