Rangers International F.C will be looking to maintain the form that has seen it go seven matches undefeated while targeting a return to winning ways in the match day 10 fixture of the 2021/2022 NPFL season as Plateau United visits the F.C Ifeanyiubah stadium, Nnewi on February 2, 2022.
Having dropped four of a possible six points from its last two fixtures against Remo Stars at home and Dakkada on the road, coach Maikaba will be leading a crack squad against his former employers with his sight fixed at annexing all three points at stake to enhance his team’ position on the log.
With sixteen points from a possible twenty-seven and occupying the third position on the log, the ‘Flying Antelopes’ would have to up their game in this fixture against a familiar foe, Plateau United that succeeded them as champions in the 2016/2017 season.
Ties between both sides have never seen any dull moment whether in Jos or Enugu as was the case last season when coach Maikaba was with the ‘Tin City Side’ as the first confrontation in Jos ended 2-1 in favor of the Jos side while the return leg ended 2-0 in favor of the Coal City side with Issif Traore and Ibrahim Olawoyin getting the goals.
A little down memory lane, between the year 2011 and 2021, both clubs have clashed ten times with the ‘Flying Antelopes’ smiling away with five victories as against four enjoyed by the ‘Tin City Side’ while an encounter ended in a draw which happened in Enugu on December 18, 2019 while the only time there has been a win on the road for either side, was the 0-1 win on June 25, 2011 for the Enugu side in Jos.
On current form, both sides pride themselves of annexing a total twelve points from their last six matches as Rangers got three wins and three draws while the visitors, under coach Fidelis Ilechukwu, had four wins and two losses.
Coach Maikaba appreciates the fact that it will be a tough encounter against his former wards but is optimistic of getting the needed result to enhance his sides aspirations for the season as he said in a chat, Tuesday, “Like in every other game, our target is to win and get the three points at stake. It is still in our memory that we lost two points in our last home game and I believe we would not have been where we are on the log. We will use the opportunity to our best advantage and see that we get the three points at to make changes to our position on the log.”
On the issue of being under pressure playing against his former club, the much traveled tactician said, “I have coached about five clubs in the past and definitely, I have to meet my former club at a time. Once I meet my former club, what I do as a coach is to use the knowledge I have about the club to my advantage and make sure we get the maximum points. Though, football is not Mathematics, but our hope is to come up on top because we really need to change our position positively after the match against Plateau United.”
For the actors on the pitch, Rangers will likely put the charge of goals delivery on the shoulders of last season’ club top marksman, Christian Nnaji and Ikechukwu Eboko while relying on the services of such stars as Kenechukwu Agu, Ejike Uzoenyi, Shedrack Asiegbu and Samuel Pam while depending on the defensive prowess of Ernest Governor led defenders to provide cover for Bamidele Adeniyi just as coach Ilechukwu should be counting on the services of Daniel Itodo, Alex Aghahowa and Jimmy Ambrose to lead from the rear as cover for goalkeeper, Henry Anozie, with the expected presence of Akile Jesse, Klinshak Longbam and Sunday Anthony in the middle of the pack to provide Muhammad Zulkifilu and Reuben Bala the passes upfront.
