Coal City Pre-season tournament: Rangers beat Enyimba in opening game
Reigning NPFL champion Rangers International of Enugu recorded a hard fought 1-0 victory over Oriental rivals
Enyimba FC of Aba in the opening game of this year’s Coal City Pre-season tournament.
An Agu Kenechukwu’s left-footed shot taken inside the box off Okorie Chiedozie’s intelligent cut-back on 51 minutes of play turned out to be the goal that separated the two teams in the highly explosive encounter.
‘The Cathedral’, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, was the perfect setting for this epic soccer show as the two most decorated clubs in the country battled for bragging rights on a cold Thursday night in Coal City.
Chiedozie Okorie was at his element and a handful for the backline of the Aba boys but was not too lucky with hitting the net when the opportunity came his way as was in the 6th minute when he was set up by diminutive, Isaac Saviour.
The ‘Aba Elephants’ reacted well to this early threat as they poured forward in their numbers, creating chances of their own but Rangers shot stopper, Japhet Opubo was at his best to beat out a Joseph Atule’ screamer on 12 minutes while Ufere Chinedu’ effort on 23 minutes was ruled out for off-side after he was set up by Uwana Asuquo.
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu handed starts to new boy and former Enyimba defender, Macben Otika who paired with Charles Okafor in the heart of the defense for Rangers while regular suspects like Super Eagles player, Kenneth Igboke and Joel Odoh held sway as wing-backs with Ejike Ugochukwu saddled with his defensive midfield role in a 4-3-3 formation with former Heartland’ hitman, Okafor Onyekachi leading the assault upfront.
At the end of the encounter, Coach Ilechukwu said, “It was a very good game and a difficult test for my boys but we did well to contain our opponent and scored the only goal of the match which is very important.
“Enyimba showed great strength today but we were very lucky to have won. We continue our rebuilding process leading up to the CAF Champions League and I commend my boys for standing out tall in this preseason encounter.”
Rangers will play Sierra Leone side, F.C Kallon on Sunday, August 4, 2024, in another night fixture inside Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
