Oriental Derby: Rangers must win Heartland, says coach

Rangers International FC of Enugu coach, Abdul Maikaba, says the club must beat their visitors Heartland FC of Owerri in the Nigeria Professional Football League match day 27 at Awka.

Makaiba disclosed on Friday that the club had no other option than to win and put pressure on the league leaders.

He said the match would be a tough one.

Rangers FC defeated their visitors Heartland FC 3-0 in the first leg of the league played on January 21.

Maikaba said the first leg and result were now of the past and that his players must up their game on Sunday to complete it double over their neighbours.

“This is the second leg. Each game is different and comes with its antics and atmosphere. Yes, we get the result we prepared for at away but the battle is not over,” Rangers coach explained. “I believed that we have prepared well for this match, because we know such games will be difficult. The match is a derby and the visitors must come smoking, especially bearing in mind that they lost to us at their home.”

He added, “Heartland will want to revenge their defeat at home but on our own part, we have a vision which is to pick three points in all our remaining matches of the season.”

Maikaba said the club must go for three points each time to keep it’s hope alive, if not winning the league, getting a continental ticket.

He said the club management, technical crew and the players were not under any pressure of getting a good result from the remaining 12 matches of the season.

Rangers are fourth on the league table with 42 points behind Remo Stars with 43 points after 26 matches.

(NAN)