NPFL group A table topping side and seven-time league champions, Rangers International F.C, will be staking its thirteen match unbeaten run in the league on the line with a visit to the ancient Benin Kingdom for a re-scheduled match day 8 fixture with old rivals, Bendel Insurance on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, sports247.ng@ reports.
With 31 points from fourteen matches already prosecuted, the ‘Flying Antelopes’ are in no mood to lower their guards as ‘Draw Specialist’, Bendel Insurance complete with some ‘Eastern Bloods’ try to end the fine form of the coach Olugbenga Ogunbote wards inside the football pitch of University of Benin, Ugbowo, Edo state.
Going down memory lane, Media Officer of Enugu outfit, Nobert Okolie said one can remember the shouts of ‘Ogboe na bia’ from the legendry, Africa’ ‘Numero Un’ in the 3-0 bashing suffered by the great Rangers in the 1978 F.A cup finals where a certain Henry Ogboe was the tormentor-in-chief while the reversal was the case three years later at the when the chant changed to ‘Ighen vbe re ne ooo’ for the ‘Benin Arsenals’ fans as the Christian Chukwu led legends, avenged the defeat of 1978.
The fans that will throng the UNIBEN stadium are assured of quality football as the reigning Aiteo cup champions come to town with a very enviable record of losing only one game on the road winning two and three ended in draw while the Monday Odigie lads have not found it easy breaking down oppositions either home or away since regaining its premiership status winning only three, drawing nine and losing three scoring eight goals and conceding eight as well.
Looking ahead to the encounter in Benin, coach Ogunbote said, “I must confess that it is becoming a big pressure for us maintaining our position on the league but we are condemned to take the pressure and keep our heads high. Sincerely, I must say that there is nothing really I have done to the team other than letting the players know of what we stand to gain together especially with our continental participation. Also, I had to put in the players a winning mentality. On the Insurance game, we will do our best. When we get to the venue, we will know how to approach the match. We hope to come back with a positive result in as much as we get a level playing field with regards to officiating.”
Ivorian attacking sensation, Seka Pascal, whose form is on the rise in the past six matches, said in a smattering English, “I am happy to be scoring again. I hope to continue scoring as I dream of hitting a dozen at the end of the season. Insurance will be tough but I believe we shall come back with a good result.”
Another interesting angle to this fixture will be the battle between father and son as Insurance young defender, Chinonso Ugwu will hopefully assist the backline in knitting a tight defense line to help deny his father, Benedict Ugwu (SURUGEDE)’ team a sniff at goal.
The form of both teams in the past five encounters looks encouraging as it has been WDWWW for Rangers and DDDWW for Bendel Insurance hence the make shift back line of Rangers anchored around Isiaka Oladuntoye, Akpos Adubi, Chidera Ezeh and Ugwu Uwadiegwu will have a lot of job to do containing Junior Osaghae, Imade Odarenkhoe, Kingsley Onovo and Michael Enaruna while Seka Pascal will be looking to score his sixth of the season but Benjamin Tanimu and Daniel Johnson may form a stumbling block.
Rangers will also be weary of a certain Adimora Eze and ageless, Charles Omokaro, the former being responsible for the crushing defeat the ‘Flying Antelopes’ suffered in last season’ Enugu state F.A cup when he appeared in the colors of Crime Busters F.C with his strong aerial ability
