By Chukwuemeka Opara
Enugu – Enugu Rangers Coach Imama Amakpakabo says the club’s success in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions league competition and the domestic league, depends on the club’s management.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rangers beat El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri 4-0 in Enugu on Sunday to win its first domestic title since 1984.
Amakpakabo, who was a member of the 1985 Golden Eaglets World Cup winning team, noted that the management should maintain its superlative organisational abilities in the just concluded season.
“The club’s management played unquantifiable role in the trophy jinx we broke this season but next season would be a different ball game.
“We would, aside from competing for the league and the federation cup, compete in the prestigious CAF Champions League competition.
“We would approach the CAF champions league with the same system we deployed for the league and hope to become the first team to win it for Nigeria since Enyimba did last in 2004.
“We need to fortify the team because competing in the continent is a higher task while players’ welfare should be enhanced the more,’’ he said.
He attributed the team’s success to God’s grace, hard work, unity, discipline and tremendous support from the state government and well wishers.
“We were written off at the beginning of the season but I told the players that such was an opportunity for them to prove critics wrong and make names for themselves.
“We instilled unparalleled degree of confidence into the players and made them believe that they possess the same quality or even more, with those touted to win the cup,’’ he said.
He remarked that his tutelage under renowned coaches in the country gave him the ability to transform the Rangers team into a winning one.
“I have assisted coaches such as Solomon Ogbeide, Kadiri Ikhana, John Obuh and Salisu Yusuf, among others, and gained valuable confidence and experience from them.
“I am elated that having got the opportunity to tinker a top club side, I did not disappoint myself and those who reposed confidence in me,’’ he said.
Edited by Kayode Olaitan