Rangers aim for double as Fed Cup hots up
Rangers Haliru Umar (left) vs Hajaig in Fed Cup action
Benfica chase Taye Taiwo
League leaders Enugu Rangers have vowed not leave
anything to chance in the Federation Cup as they aim to win the double this
season.
Sixteen teams will from Monday across four of Nigeria’s cities begin the battle for quarterfinal tickets of 2012 Federation Cup with Rangers drawn against Sharks, Prime FC and Dynamite Force of Benin City.
Rangers chairman Festus Onuh said his team are angling for the double to end almost three decades of a poor run.
“This is Rangers’ year to win a double. The league is almost in the kitty and we shall devote equal attention to the Federation Cup,” declared Onuh.
“We are not going to underrate any side in our group as every team earned the right to play in the group stage. It will be tough but we have a capable team to do the government and good people of Enugu state proud.”
Sharks skipper Odinga Odinga, who is a veteran of many cups with the Port-Harcourt side, said their results in the group stage will determine how far they go this year.
“Sharks are in this to be winners. We have not been very lucky in the past editions but I strongly believe that we have all it takes to be champions this term,” he said.
“It will be tough negotiating our way through the group stage, but once we are able to do that, other games will be mere formality.”
Dynamite Force are one of the surprise packages in this year’s edition after they sent packing NPL side Akwa United.
They boast of such names as Charles Omokaro, John Ofomba and a host of other retired premier league players, who wish to prove a point or two.
Enyimba, Warri Wolves, Lobi Stars and non-league Samba of Enugu are drawn in the toughest group of the cup competition in Bauchi.
Clubs have raised concerns over their safety in the northern Nigerian city of Bauchi following terrorists’ attacks that left hundreds dead.
Enyimba coach Austin Eguavoen has backed his team to go all the way in the Federation Cup.
“Surely it will be a tough one to navigate our way out a zone with Wolves, Lobi and little known, Samba. But, like you know, we have tasted the joy of victory some years back and we can do it again,” said the former Eagles coach.
“The players are there and the management is doing its best to motivate us to go all the way to lift the trophy. We shall give every game the attention it deserves until we take the trophy back to Aba.”
Lobi Stars midfield star Jonah Abutu told MTNFootball.com: “Yes, we are in a tough group, but we are capable of picking one of the quarterfinal tickets. We know ourselves very well and understand what the other teams can do on the pitch, so, the trophy remains our target this season.”
Lagos will play host to Kwara United, Kano Pillars, El Kanemi Warriors and Crown FC.
Coach Kelechi ‘Caterpillar’ Emeteole, who has successfully guided El Kanemi back to the top flight for next season, will hope for luck to advance past this stage of the competition.
“We are not new in this business so nobody can take us for a ride. We respect every team in our group, but we don’t fear any of them,” he said.
“It will be 11 players against another 11 from the other side and the team with better co-ordination and some bit of luck will progress to the quarterfinals and I hope we are one of the teams who will not only qualify from the Lagos zone, but also play in the final.”
Cup holders Heartland will have Gombe United, Plateau United and Nasarawa United to contend with in the Port-Harcourt zone.
Heartland star Ikechukwu Ibenegbu expressed confidence.
“We are condemned to retain this trophy for a quick return to the continent,” he said.
“Last year, we beat all comers to the trophy and that is what we have set for ourselves this year.
“Almost all the players who helped us win it last season are still here and we got some quality players to replace those who left so it will be as smooth as possible.
“We are not under-estimating any of the sides in our group, but we shall take every game with all the seriousness it deserves.”
Plateau United assistant coach Cornelius Goper, who was in the Plateau United team who won the club’s only Federation Cup many years back, told MTNFootball.com: “We are in a very open group that can produce any team as qualifier.
“With Heartland, Nasarawa United and Gombe United, it can go either way and we are prepared to give all our games the best shot.
“I don’t think that playing in Port-Harcourt will work against us because we eliminated Dolphin, but I know the fans of the state appreciate good football and they cannot but help to appreciate the good brand of football that we will put up at Liberation Stadium in Port-Harcourt.”
The Federation Cup final will be played in Lagos on August 26 with the winners representing Nigeria in next year’s CAF Confederation Cup.
Sixteen teams will from Monday across four of Nigeria’s cities begin the battle for quarterfinal tickets of 2012 Federation Cup with Rangers drawn against Sharks, Prime FC and Dynamite Force of Benin City.
Rangers chairman Festus Onuh said his team are angling for the double to end almost three decades of a poor run.
“This is Rangers’ year to win a double. The league is almost in the kitty and we shall devote equal attention to the Federation Cup,” declared Onuh.
“We are not going to underrate any side in our group as every team earned the right to play in the group stage. It will be tough but we have a capable team to do the government and good people of Enugu state proud.”
Sharks skipper Odinga Odinga, who is a veteran of many cups with the Port-Harcourt side, said their results in the group stage will determine how far they go this year.
“Sharks are in this to be winners. We have not been very lucky in the past editions but I strongly believe that we have all it takes to be champions this term,” he said.
“It will be tough negotiating our way through the group stage, but once we are able to do that, other games will be mere formality.”
Dynamite Force are one of the surprise packages in this year’s edition after they sent packing NPL side Akwa United.
They boast of such names as Charles Omokaro, John Ofomba and a host of other retired premier league players, who wish to prove a point or two.
Enyimba, Warri Wolves, Lobi Stars and non-league Samba of Enugu are drawn in the toughest group of the cup competition in Bauchi.
Clubs have raised concerns over their safety in the northern Nigerian city of Bauchi following terrorists’ attacks that left hundreds dead.
Enyimba coach Austin Eguavoen has backed his team to go all the way in the Federation Cup.
“Surely it will be a tough one to navigate our way out a zone with Wolves, Lobi and little known, Samba. But, like you know, we have tasted the joy of victory some years back and we can do it again,” said the former Eagles coach.
“The players are there and the management is doing its best to motivate us to go all the way to lift the trophy. We shall give every game the attention it deserves until we take the trophy back to Aba.”
Lobi Stars midfield star Jonah Abutu told MTNFootball.com: “Yes, we are in a tough group, but we are capable of picking one of the quarterfinal tickets. We know ourselves very well and understand what the other teams can do on the pitch, so, the trophy remains our target this season.”
Lagos will play host to Kwara United, Kano Pillars, El Kanemi Warriors and Crown FC.
Coach Kelechi ‘Caterpillar’ Emeteole, who has successfully guided El Kanemi back to the top flight for next season, will hope for luck to advance past this stage of the competition.
“We are not new in this business so nobody can take us for a ride. We respect every team in our group, but we don’t fear any of them,” he said.
“It will be 11 players against another 11 from the other side and the team with better co-ordination and some bit of luck will progress to the quarterfinals and I hope we are one of the teams who will not only qualify from the Lagos zone, but also play in the final.”
Cup holders Heartland will have Gombe United, Plateau United and Nasarawa United to contend with in the Port-Harcourt zone.
Heartland star Ikechukwu Ibenegbu expressed confidence.
“We are condemned to retain this trophy for a quick return to the continent,” he said.
“Last year, we beat all comers to the trophy and that is what we have set for ourselves this year.
“Almost all the players who helped us win it last season are still here and we got some quality players to replace those who left so it will be as smooth as possible.
“We are not under-estimating any of the sides in our group, but we shall take every game with all the seriousness it deserves.”
Plateau United assistant coach Cornelius Goper, who was in the Plateau United team who won the club’s only Federation Cup many years back, told MTNFootball.com: “We are in a very open group that can produce any team as qualifier.
“With Heartland, Nasarawa United and Gombe United, it can go either way and we are prepared to give all our games the best shot.
“I don’t think that playing in Port-Harcourt will work against us because we eliminated Dolphin, but I know the fans of the state appreciate good football and they cannot but help to appreciate the good brand of football that we will put up at Liberation Stadium in Port-Harcourt.”
The Federation Cup final will be played in Lagos on August 26 with the winners representing Nigeria in next year’s CAF Confederation Cup.
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