Troubled Rangers Face Draw Specialists, 3SC

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Two Nigerian football traditional rivals, Shooting Stars and Enugu Rangers, who are exhibiting their rivalries in the back waters of the premier league, are also incidentally tied together by a traditional continental foe, Zamalek of Egypt.

Both sides which meet today at the Lekan Salami Stadium in a rescheduled league match are struggling against possible relegation.

For Shooting Stars, draw specialists this season, relegation is not a new occurrence.  But for Enugu Rangers, the league defending champions, relegation at the end of this season will be their first ever since becoming one of the pioneers of the national league in 1972.

Rangers remain the only top flight club never to have been relegated. But a drop looms large, as the side places 19^th in a field of 20. Shooting Stars are 18^th. Both have been victims of superior fire power of Zamalek of Egypt in continental championships.

For Shooting Stars which appear to be the draw specialists of this season, a win is very unlikely. The former continental power has had to contend with four consecutive home draws, the last was against Abia Warriors three days ago.

No team has accumulated more drawn game than Shooting Stars this season. The number of their drawn games is seven from 13 matches, having also drawn three away games with Katsina, Enyimba and Gombe United.