Sports
Rangers Coach Dismisses sack Rumour
Addressing journalists at a pre-match briefing, Ilechukwu gave firm backing to his assistants and insisted the technical department remains completely united. He said his working relationship with his lieutenants has always been built on trust and collective responsibility.
“My assistants are like family. We eat together, work together, and support one another. People outside may misunderstand things, but inside we are completely united,” Ilechukwu said.
He expressed full confidence in chief coach Ekenederichukwu Eke, noting that Eke routinely leads the team whenever he is away on national duty with the Super Eagles.
“In my absence, my assistant can take charge and win matches. That is what good leadership is. Training people to step up when you are not there.”
Ilechukwu also addressed speculation about his job security, stating categorically that there is no basis for the rumours. He stressed his commitment to Rangers and pointed to his professional record.
“All those stories are untrue. It is not possible. I have a contract with Rangers. In every club I have worked, I always finish my contract. I have never been sacked,” he added.
The former Plateau United, MFM and Heartland manager guided Rangers to the NPFL title in his debut season and is now in his third year at the helm after signing an extension last season.
He reserved special praise for midfielder Kenechukwu Agu, describing him as the most complete midfielder in the division and confirming he will start this weekend.
“He is one of the best passers in the league. Sometimes he starts, sometimes he comes from the bench, so we are not predictable”, he said.
The 26-year-old has scored two goals and provided one assist in eight league matches this term.
His total for Rangers stands at 115 appearances, 17 goals and 10 assists, including a standout free-kick in the recent Oriental Derby against Enyimba.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s fixture, Ilechukwu said his squad have trained well and are fully aware of the challenge posed by Bayelsa United.
He noted their recent form and warned that the visitors cannot be taken lightly.
“We have trained well, and the players know what is at stake. Bayelsa United are not a team to underestimate. We expect a tough match, but I believe we will play well on Sunday,” he concluded.
Rangers, currently eighth with 22 points, host Bayelsa United at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium as they aim to strengthen their push up the table.
A well-known football pundit in the State, Chief Christopher Okonkwo has lauded the efforts and vision of the Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle for going from one venue of the Nigeria Domestic Nigeria Professional Football League match to the other in monitoring Nigerian players, with a view to invite some exceptional good one discovered into the main stream of the Super Eagles team.
Okonkwo, who made the commendation in an interview at the Port Harcourt Club recently, described the positive move by Coach Chelle as a good step in the right direction, noting that the practice was how its been done in the past among any contracted coach assigned to tinker the Super Eagles team.
“Truly, it has been an old tradition in the country seeing any newly engaged Coach to lead the National team, visiting some our Nigeria League venues during the league matches to spot light some good talents that could be used to beef up some grey areas in the department of Eagles team”
He, however, frowned at the current situation where our coaches had continously been over depending on the use of foreign based players during invitation of players to the National camp, thereby, relegating the domestic home based league players to the background as if they have nothing much to offer to the team.
“I can vividly recall that the likes of great players in the mode of Finidi George, Taribo West, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha, Richard Owobokiri, Emmanuel Osuigwe among others started from Nigeria football league before they graduated to play in Europe through which they later invited to Super Eagles camp to represent Nigeria”
“Besides, I’m also of the view that going to secondary school football competitive games could equally serves as a a good platform to discover budding talents that could be nurtured to become great stars in near future”, Okonkwo frankly added.
Okonkwo, therefore, prayed that any football coach to be engaged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to tinker the Super Eagles should be told not to confine himself in staying in big hotel alone but to be visiting some of our local league match venues, with a view to discover some good players that can be drafted into the Super Eagles team.
“Indeed, I stand to be challenged that there some young good players in the Nigeria Professional League. If spotted and exposed, could give the some of the invited foreign based players a stiff competitive fight in securing a postion in the team”, Okonkwo emphatically stated.
Ezechukwu, one of the youngest members of the Nigerian contingent at the championship in Ghana, said her ambition was to win the 100m title in style and cap it with a new personal record.
The fresh secondary school graduate explained that she is fully focused on contributing to Team Nigeria’s medal hopes and is determined to deliver strong performances across her events.
“My main objective in Ghana is to clinch the 100m title and the 4×100m,” Ezechukwu told Tidesports source.
“Nigeria can be assured of my very best and my commitment to the Team. I would love to set a new personal best in Ghana, but anything that comes, I will take it. The spirit in the team is high, and I think we are ready to go,” she said.
Ezechukwu, who was part of Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay squad at the World Relays in Botswana, said the experience gained from that competition has strengthened her mindset heading into the continental championships.
She admitted that she learned valuable lessons from her previous outing, including a difficult moment during the relay where an early error affected the team’s rhythm, but said she has used the experience to improve her discipline and composure.
“The secret is just being disciplined, training hard and trusting my coach and believing in God, and the result will show,” she added.
The teenager is part of a 41-member Nigerian team comprising 24 female and 17 male athletes competing at the championships, which begin today at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Nigeria are expected to compete across multiple track and field events as they aim for a strong finish against the continent’s elite athletes.
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