NPFL PLAYOFFS: RANGERS' COACH AND CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC AFTER A FIRST ROUND DEFEAT

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Rangers International went down 1-0 to Enyimba International in the opening game of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Championship Playoff but the team’s Coach, Gbenga Ogunbote and captain, Godwin Aguda is confident they will bounce back to reckoning for the title.

Joseph Osadiaye’s 49th minute strike was defended stoutly by the Peoples Elephant that nearly got a second goal on the counter even as changes made by Rangers gave the team some bite in the second half.

“We are here for a tournament of five games but have lost one already. That naturally has put pressure on us but we will definitely make up in the remaining matches”, Ogunbote said at a post match conference.

He praised Enyimba for their tactical discipline while admitting that his squad didn’t start off well.

Ogunbote said “we have taken the positives from this match and will work to remedy observed weaknesses so we can remain in contention for the title and a continental ticket”.

On whether he is under pressure to win the title, the Coach asserted, “there’s no coach that goes into a competition not planning to win. Yes, I want to win the title but the defeat hasn’t put me under any negative pressure but is rather a motivation”.

Aguda, who also spoke at the post match conference said their error was in the poor start to the match and assured their fans that the team will get better in the remaining matches.

“I think what we didn’t get right was our slow start to the game. You can see we played better in the second half but failed to get a goal”, rued Aguda.

Like his coach, the diminutive player insists one bad result is not sufficient to mar their title ambitions.

“We will go after three points in the remaining games and at the end, we will consider our chances”, Aguda noted