… Rue Inability To Take Chances In Aiteo Cup

Technical Adviser to Rangers International F.C of Enugu, Coach Abdul Maikaba, has attributed his team’s inability to play a further part in the ongoing oldest club competition in the country, the Aiteo/Federation cup to his team’s profligacy in front of goal and tight defending at the back as Heartland triumphed 8-7 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time.
In a chat after the nail-biting loss inside Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin-City in a round of 32 clashes, the experienced and widely traveled gaffer said, “It was a very good game but I believe that our greatest undoing was not converting our numerous opportunities created during the regular period as well as not holding onto our lead. We lost through penalties which is one of those things in the game of football. This was not the result we worked for or wanted in the game but we take it in good faith and hope to come back stronger next season.”
The six-time national cup champions exited the competition after losing to Oriental rivals, Heartland F.C after a pulsating penalty kick that saw the Owerri side picking the round of 16 tickets via an 8-7 win even when the Enugu side took a 29-minute lead through Ossy Martins who bundled home a Chidiebere Nwobodo’ goal-bound effort off an inch-perfect pass from Ejike Uzoenyi.