Football
Fidelis Ilechukwu's Vision: Navigating Challenges and Rebuilding Enugu Rangers for Success
Enugu Rangers' coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, addresses early-season challenges, team rebuilding efforts, and outlines strategies for continued success in the NPFL after last season's triumph.
Image Credits: Punch News Paper
As the Nigeria Premier Football League season unfolds, defending champions Enugu Rangers find themselves grappling with an underwhelming start.
With only one win, a draw, and a loss after three matches, the team currently occupies 12th place on the league table. Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu faces the dual challenge of addressing inconsistencies while rebuilding the squad after key player departures.
Despite these hurdles, he remains optimistic, focusing on strategic adjustments and the unwavering support of management and fans.
Coach Ilechukwu's Optimism Amidst Inconsistencies
Fidelis Ilechukwu addressed the inconsistencies plaguing the champions, emphasizing that there was no cause for alarm at this stage.
"That's not a problem. Everything is fine. There are so many things we have introduced to make sure we have a better advantage to replicate what we've done last season.
"A team cannot win the league and start shaking the next season,” he told SportsBoom.com.
He further spoke in defence of his side, expressing his delight at the response of his team to them exiting the CAF Champions League at the preliminaries.
"I love the way the boys responded after losing out in the Champions League.”
"I think the two games played after the Champions League shows that there's hope for Rangers,” he added.
Ilechukwu acknowledged the challenges posed by fixture congestion, particularly with their upcoming match against Bayelsa.
"The challenges we have and the areas we are to work on. Inasmuch as there's fatigue right now, playing Bayelsa again on Wednesday, and it's not an easy game, but there's nothing we can do about that."
We are going to start pushing forward to make sure we start getting good consistent results.
Fidelis Ilechukwu
Adapting to Change: Coach Ilechukwu on Team Dynamics
"Sabi ball," has he's fondly called, spoke about the change in dynamics within his team since last season’s triumph and how he is addressing these changes this season.
"There's no magic in football, except if I want to deceive myself or deceive people.”
"Last season, we tried to build the team, and we capitalized on the advantage of some top-quality players, with the management backing and support to welfare packages and everything to win the league.”
"We lost few important players at the end of the season, if they were around, we would have had a greater advantage again, but we lost them to other teams, and we've signed a few new players trying to see what we are going to do, to make it a stronger team.”
"But it's not a one-day job. It's something that we are going to do gradually.”
The league is on now, and we are rebuilding. Whatsoever is going to happen, has time goes on we would see what we can do, but I think we are fine.
Fidelis Ilechukwu
Success Factors: The Key Ingredients Behind Last Season’s Triumph
The enigmatic coach touched on the ingredients that made last season a success for the flying antelopes as well.
"The management is one of the key reasons, welfare package of the players is top priority of the team, and the Management has done so much on that.”
"His excellency, the Governor returning the team back to Enugu was one of the strong factors as well.”
"The fans, our 12th man on the field, have been very supportive. Everybody played their role in football, everyone putting their hands on the desk and making sure things work well.”
"The backroom staff, the technical crew, and everyone involved with the club.”
"It's not just a one man show. It's about what everyone contributed, and today, we are proud of what we achieved last season."
Adjusting for Success: Ilechukwu Outlines Rangers' Plans for the Season
Looking ahead, Ilechukwu shared his plans for Rangers and their goals for the current season.
"It's important. There are a few things we are going to adjust to the team." He noted.
"We must adjust a few things that's going to help our team, that's the reason why when you have an opportunity to be in a place like that, it's a place you will go and learn one or two things as well, to add to what you have.”
"I think the adjustment is going to start as fast as possible to make sure that Rangers meets up or even does better than what people expects of this season.”
"These are things we are doing to get things right, and I promise you that by God's grace, everything is possible,” he concluded.
Gbemidepo Popoola, is a freelance Sport Journalist with multiple years of experience in Writing, Reportage and Broadcasting. Gbemidepo's major concentration is telling the local Nigerian Sporting stories, in its own Unique way. This is because he believes, "no one, can tell our story better than ourselves".