Rangers International’s progression to the top of the 2022/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table may be hailed by their teeming fans as a sign of a hopeful title chase. However, the club’s General Manager, Amobi Ezeaku, in this interview with Completesports.com insists that the Flying Antelopes are not being pressured by any set target as Fidelis Ilechukwu’s team is still a work in progress.
As Rangers seek to consolidate their resurgent form and top position when they face Lobi Stars at Lafia City Stadium in Lafia, Nasarawa State on Thursday, November 2, Amobi reiterates that there is no pressure.
Interview by CHIGOZIE CHUKWULETA
Excerpts…
Completesports.com: With your team’s current performance rate and position on the NPFL table, would you say you now have the Rangers of your dreams?
Ezeaku: It’s a work in progress. We keep developing, we keep trying. Remember when we announced our strategic plan, we said our takeoff point was that of humility and leadership. Even in our current status, we remain humble. We are not there yet. We want to play one game at a time.
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We had a good outing against Pillars, that has ended [4-1 win]. We look forward to Thursday in Lafia against Lobi another big team. So for us, we keep working. Like l said, it’s a work in progress. Until the last day of the league and then we can look back to say look at how far we’ve gone.
What is the Rangers’ ambition in the 2023 season?
Our dream as we laid out in our strategic plan is to be excellent sporting-wise, it’s to look at the commercial development angle of the club, and the community social impact. We don’t want to pressure the coach. The players should play and enjoy themselves. We don’t have a set target, if the trophy comes, so be it. We want to play, we want the fans to enjoy themselves. We want to bring good football to everybody.
Are you not under pressure with the trend of Rangers conceding a goal in every match?
That’s football, the best team scores the highest. In 2016 when we won the trophy, l remember we played games with scorelines of 4-3, 3-2. When you outscore the other opponent then you win, that opponent also played. We are not under pressure. The hallmark of excellence and mental toughness is that when you concede, you are able to bounce back and then you keep playing. We could see that against Kano Pillars, it was a test for us. All these while, we’ve been scoring first. On Sunday against Pillars, we conceded but we were able to come back with four goals.
Talking about your game against Pillars, how would you appraise the match with Rangers having a smooth ride over a big rival?
Great match, great atmosphere in Awka. We thank God for the three points and the goal margin- 4-1 against a big team like Kano Pillars is incredible. After the first half, the boys came out in the second half with fire in their eyes and that is Rangers for you. We are very happy, we are grateful.
Looking at that victory against Pillars, how can Rangers brace up to face Lobi Stars in Lafia?
It has always been my position not to comment on technical matters, I am the General Manager. I know Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu has seen what he needs to see. But then I will always say I am very happy with the condition of the team.
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