Rangers International coach Fidelis Ilechukwu has attributed his team’s disappointing season to a combination of injuries and financial constraints, after their recent exit from the President Federation Cup at the hands of Kwara United and their failure to defend the Nigeria Premier Football League title.
Reflecting on the 1-0 semi-final defeat to Kwara United, Ilechukwu acknowledged the quality of their opponents but admitted that his side’s carelessness cost them the defeat
He explained that Rangers prepared well but faltered particularly in the first half, saying the team started playing effectively later in the match.
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The season has been challenging for the coach, who revealed that injuries disrupted his squad. He said at one point, as many as 16 players were sidelined, limiting training sessions and forcing caution to avoid worsening conditions.
Despite the setbacks, the coach remains optimistic about rebuilding as he recently signed a new contract to continue with Rangers. He emphasised the need to make tough decisions about the squad, including dropping some players, promoting others, and potentially recruiting new talent, all within the limits of the club’s financial capacity.
Rangers currently sit eighth on the league table with one match remaining against Shooting Stars in Ibadan, having failed to win in 23 games and lost 13, a far cry from their title-winning campaign last season.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
