Enugu Rangers suffered a 2-0 defeat against Rivers United in the NPFL. Despite the loss, Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu remains optimistic about the team’s future performances.
Ilechukwu acknowledged the team’s shortcomings in the match, stating, “We lost, not a good game for us. Very bad day. So many errors in the defence line and our opponents have the advantage of tall players.” He conceded that Rivers United deserved the win due to their superior play and numerous chances against the Rangers.
During the match, Ilechukwu was noticeably restless, frequently shouting instructions to his players. When asked about this, he explained, “That’s football for you. Continental team is a continental team. They are a big team playing against them, you must also use your voice to play to make sure that they do some other things you don’t want them to do.”
Despite the loss, Ilechukwu dismissed the idea that this was a significant setback to their title challenge. “Title? I’m not thinking about the title. Enyimba, Lobi Stars and Remo Stars are thinking about it,” he said. Instead, he emphasized the team’s focus on structure and taking each game one at a time.
The Rangers, who came into the game at the top of the table, were not at their best during the match. Ilechukwu attributed this to the challenges of playing against a big team and the pitch conditions, which did not suit their style of play. “We can’t play our game on this pitch because our pitch are so good that we can keep the ball. We used to keep the ball. So when we meet a pitch like this, we start struggling and playing on,” he explained.
Despite the defeat, Ilechukwu remains positive about the team’s prospects. “We still believe in what we’re gonna achieve in the next game and other games,” he said. He also expressed confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back from this setback, stating, “When you are positive, it means that anything can happen.”
This match serves as a learning experience for the Enugu Rangers. With their focus on improving their defensive line and adapting to different pitch conditions, they are determined to come back stronger in their upcoming matches.
