Rangers seek return to winning ways, ambush Kano Pillars for maximum points in Awka

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 the ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers International F.C. play host to the ‘Sai Masu Gida’, Kano Pillars F.C. in a match day 5, NPFL 2023/2024 fixture.

Rangers, who drew 1-1 at Kwara United last weekend 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 realization 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.

Coach 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.

‘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, Psychologically, and spiritually 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.’