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Rangers, Shooting Stars in Titanic Battle for Points

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BY JUBRIL AROWOLO

 

Some years past, it would have been the match of the day. But how time changes. The Enugu Rangers versus Shooting Stars is almost relegated to the realm of anonymity.  Both sides are virtually struggling for recognition this season.

Old football rivalry may just be rekindled as Rangers International FC hosts Shooting Stars FC on Sunday afternoon at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu.

No one can forget in a hurry, the dramatic end of their first leg clash in Ibadan when Shooting Stars scored a late minute goal to punish the Flying Antelopes who lost a penalty kick in 87′ of the exciting encounter!

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This is the background of Sunday’s tie and fans cannot wait to see how it pans out.

The visiting Shooting Stars are hard hit just having 32 points from 27 games played and are dangerously placed in the 18th position.

Right now, the fortunes of   these two old club sides in the country are nothing to write home about on the current league log.

As such, the Oluyole Warriors must up the ante and start winning some crucial points on the road to complement recent victorious home runs.

This, the club’s Technical Adviser, Fatai Amoo expressed in a chat with www.3sc.com.ng on Saturday evening after the team’s training session.

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“We have to start winning from tomorrow. It’s about making up our minds that other teams are winning away, why are we not? I think it has to do with our psyche!

However, Amoo sees the game as a big battle of old rivals with the belief that it could go either way.

“It’s a battle of two arch rivals and whoever stands up to be counted will win that’s why my players have to raise their game”.

Camp checks reveal a loaded, determined side with experience players in the likes of Ajani Ibrahim, Najeem Olukokun and Nonso Mbakwe and company.

For Rangers FC, it is a game they are not toying with to reaffirm their recent resurgence after a turbulent period that consumed their league winning tactician, Imama Amamakpabo.

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With just 35 points from 27 matches in 12th position, they need to put up a spirited fight against the visiting Oluyole rivals who are bent on repeating or surpassing last year’s share of the spoils in a 1-1 score line.

Meanwhile, Rangers Spokesperson, Foster Chime says not this time round will the visitors survive it, as the Flying Antelopes would not loose its guard.

“Shooting Stars should look elsewhere for points. What happened last session will not repeat itself and our players are ready to give a fight”, Foster said.

 

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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