After a nail-biting loss to Lobi Stars F.C in an NPFL 2023/2024 match day 6 fixtures in Lafia, Thursday, the ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers International F.C is targeting the maximum at stake when fierce neighbors, Heartland F.C come visiting at the Awka City Stadium in an ‘Oriental Derby’ fixed for Sunday, November 5, 2023, with kickoff set for 16:00 hours.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu will most likely line up the squad that helped him do a demolition job of Kano Pillars in the past week to catapult the Enugu side back to the summit of the twenty-team log just as the ‘Naze Millionaires’ under coach Christian Obi still search for its first win on the seven-week-old season.
The Coal City outfit will be banking on the magical feet of former Heartland captain, Chukwudi Nwaodu who is now leading the ‘Flying Antelopes’ for goals with the ample support of the likes of Kazeem Ogunleye, Isaac Saviour, Chidiebere Nwobodo and Godwin Obaje to ensure that the 27th official encounter between the gladiators does not lack goals.
With a slight thirteen wins for Rangers over eleven wins for Heartland and two drawn encounters, the host will be looking to extend the advantage and regain the top spot on the log as was expressed by Nwaodu in a pre-match chat where he said, “For me and my team mates we are going to give our best to ensure that we make our fans proud after the encounter against Heartland. No doubt, Heartland is a great side, but we are not giving anything away to regain our top spot going forward. We have this winning mentality and we want to win and by God’s grace, we are going to carry the day. I am very excited going into this fixture knowing that I once led Heartland but now, I am leading Rangers and will do everything to defend the Rangers badge very well on match day, there is no emotional attachment to this game for me.”
Also speaking, technical adviser for Rangers, coach Fidelis Ilechukwu who had handled the Owerri side some years back, said, “We are fully prepared for this encounter and will do everything possible technically, and tactically to win our game against Heartland. It is very important to us as we are like a wounded lion after the loss to Lobi Stars. I know Heartland very well as their former coach and I expect them to come fighting especially with their position on the log but I have only one task to deliver on the pitch which is getting a deserved win for Rangers. There is no emotional attachment to this match. Where we are on the log, is not comfortable and we want to win to better our chances of realizing our set target this season.”
The last time both sides met in the 2021/2022 season, it ended 0-3 in Owerri and 3-1 in Awka as the ‘Flying Antelopes’ did a double over the ‘Naze Millionaires but with the presence of bulky and power-playing attacking sensation, Samuel Stone ably assisted by the likes of Onyekachi Okafor, Chijioke Opara, Austin Osayande, and Prince Onuoha, the fans that are expected to troop out in their numbers to watch this titanic soccer battle between two clubs formed by the legendry late Chief Jerry Enyeazu are assured of quality football.
