NPFL week 10 match: Rangers target 3 points against Wikki Tourist in Enugu, says Media Officer

By Nicholas Obisike
orbert Okolie, the Media Officer, Rangers International FC of Enugu, has expressed optimism that the club would secure the three points against Wikki Tourist FC in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Week 10 match in Enugu.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nkgeria (NAN) in Enugu on Monday, Okolie said that Rangers would rely on its attacking prowess to pick the maximum points at stake in Wednesday’s encounter.
He said: “With six points from three matches played in the 10 week-old league, Rangers defence, marshaled by the quartet of Tope Olusesi, Isaac Loute, Paper Ousmane and Semiu Laidi, shall be alive to their duty throughout the match.
“The defence shall be alert to snuff out any threat from the visitors’ coaching crew, led by Aliyu Zubairu,” he said.
Okolie hinged his optimism on Rangers’ past record with the visiting team, saying that “Rangers have always had an edge over the Bauchi side in the last two seasons.”
“We earned a 3-2 win in a match day 13 fixture in Enugu and secured a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture on match day 33 of the 2017 season.
“Last season, it was a 3-0 spanking of the ‘Elephants’ from Bauchi in their first encounter on match day 19 fixture on April 29, 2018 in Enugu.
“This dominance is expected to continue in the match day 10 inside the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu,’’ the Rangers spokesman said.
Also, Rangers’ striker, Bright Silas, who had been spectacular since the start of the season, spoke in a similar vein.
Silas said: “We know that Wikki is a good team but we are better placed to pick all the three points at stake.
“No doubt, it will be a difficult match but we are prepared for all they will bring and at the end, we must collect our three points.”
The newly acquired midfield maestro, Tony Msonter, also said: “Any day, any time, Wikki is a good side but we are united as a team to get the maximum points at stake.
“We respect them but I don’t see them as a threat to our target of being among the teams for the Super Six contest at the end of the regular season.”
He therefore appealed to the Rangers’ teeming fans at home and beyond “to come out and cheer us to another sweet victory.”
“Anything less than victory will not be good for us going into the continent at the weekend.
“We are not under any pressure as we hope to play our game and expect the best and God’s grace.”
Msonter said that although Wikki had played more matches than Rangers and ahead on the log, “we have to be at our best to get the result that will place us where we rightly belong.”
“It will be a tough match, no doubt.”
NAN reports that the Elephants are currently placed sixth on Group A of the abridged league with nine points from seven matches.
The club won three of their matches, lost four, while scoring five goals and conceding six goals.
On their own, Rangers had six points from three matches and occupied the 11th position, ahead of their follow continental competition contestants. (NAN)