This season, Enugu Rangers have been one of the biggest winners off the pitch but their on-field performances aren’t reflecting their progress off it.
The new board at the historic side have made huge strides in repairing the worn-out image of the club. A revamped camp base and club secretariat. Multiple brand deals and partnerships signed. And very importantly, a new approach to how they project the club in the media.
All of these are vital steps in the journey to getting the club back to its glory days. However, all of these good works will be nothing if the results on the pitch do not match it, and that seems to be the case.
The Flying Antelopes head into Match Week 14 without a win in their last 5 games(defeats in the last 3). From having a fast start to the season and prompting suggestions of them being title contenders, Fidelis Ilechuchukwu’s men have slumped into a bad place and are now the league’s worst team on current form.
Although they are the league’s third-highest scorers, they have only scored once in their last 4 games. That’s a stark contrast from their early season form when they scored in each of their first 8 games.
That dry spell has coincided with Kazeem Ogunleye’s dip in form. The youngster has blanked in his last five appearances after goal contributions in 5 of his first 6 games.
Joint top scorer, Godwin Obaje has also been in and out of the squad for varying reasons. He has also scored once in his last 5 games.
Bad Habits Don’t Die Fast
The lack of goals in recent games is a worry but more worrying for the Enugu-based side is their fall into recent bad habits. In the last few seasons, the Antelopes have developed a knack for winless patches. Their current run is the third time they have gone 4 or more games without a win in 2023.
In the 2021/2022 season, they had two of such runs(MD 8-11 and MD 32-37). Those patches are the reasons they missed out on a continental place that season. Last season, they battled against the drop all through, this weekend, they could drop into the bottom 4 if they fail to win.
For a team that was tipped to compete, the 7-time champions have been disappointing. 11 points off table toppers, Remo Stars, and 8 off the last automatic continental spot is a big gap.
They still have enough time to right their wrongs though but the redemption must start this weekend against Sporting Lagos. The ‘Noisy Lagosians’ have a terrible record on the road so far. Like Rangers, they have managed only 2 points on their travels.
About seven players have returned from injuries and will give Fidelis more options to pick from as they seek to end their miserable run.
Currently, there’s nothing to suggest that he is under pressure but failure to win on Sunday could spark something.