By_Sobenna Nwagbo
Enugu Rangers International Football Club of Enugu on Saturday 30th September, 2023 started the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League campaign on a good note at the Awka City Stadium, following a 2 – 1 victory over Doma United Football Club of Gombe.
The match was the first official professional match for the new Coach of Rangers, Fidelis Ilechukwu, the new General Manager, Amobi Ezeaku and the new Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Loyd Ekweremadu. That explains how visibly happy they are along side the teaming supporters of Rangers.
Rangers went into the play without any other aim other than the maximum three points and that was archived. Kalu Nweke set Rangers on the Lead in 29th minutes and Austin Onyemaechi doubled it in 31st minutes before the end of first half. In the second half, the Doma team woke up from their sleep and slotted in 1 goal through Benard Owuko in 73 minutes.
In a post match interview, the Technical Adviser, Fidelis Ilechukwu agreed, “there are clinical issues I will need to go back and teach my players. I see no reason we will create chances and don’t utilize them. If we had utilized them in this match, we could have been more than 3 goals up, but nevertheless, we wanted a three points, and we got it”.
The Youth and Sports Commissioner, Loyd Ekweremadu who was present at the match venue said, “the match has been played and won, though my boys need to improve, but thank God this is the first match of the season, they will go home and improve”.
Match result across all the venues;
Shooting Stars 2-1 Plateau Utd
Bayelsa United 5-3 Akwa Utd
Abia Warriors 1-0 Niger Tornadoes
Heartland FC 2-2 Lobi stars
Sunshine stars 1-0 Kano pillars
*Enugu Rangers* 2-1 Doma united
Katsina Utd 1-0 Kwara Utd
Enyimba vs Bendel Insurance – pp
Rivers United vs Remo Stars – pp
Sporting Lagos vs Gombe United – 2nd Oct.
