NPFL: Onu praises players' attitude after Abia Warriors cage Flying Antelope in Awka
It was down to the boy's hard work, they are disciplined and cooperating with the training regime, and their work rate was fantastic as well as a very discipline when you have all of these it makes the job easy."
By Olusola Adebayo
Abia Warriors coach, Erasmus Onu has praised his player's attitude after his team caged the Flying Antelopes of Rangers in the Nigeria Professional Football League match on Sunday in Jos.
The hopes of the ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers International F.C to start the 2023 NPFL abridged league on a good note was nipped in the bud as visiting Abia Warriors F.C ran away with a healthy 2-0 win in a match day 1, Group B, fixture.
The encounter that took place inside Awka City Stadium on Sunday, saw coach Erasmus Onuh tutor site de score two late goals in each half to silence the appreciable crowd that turned up for the match.
Rangers started the encounter on a high and would have shot into an early lead but for the sharp reflexes of goalkeeper, Femi Thomas who made himself big to deny Elijah Ani on three minutes.
Despite dominating the first quarter hour of the encounter, there was no goal to show for their effort just as the visitors gradually came into the game with their crisp passes that drew applause from the stands and when it seem that both sides would retire to their dressing rooms on even note for the break, lone striker, Bello Lukeman nodded home an inch-perfect Kalu Nweke’ cross on 42 minutes.
The host started the second stanza as they did the first and created three opportunities in the 47, 49, and 50th minute but Femi Thomas was at his best to deny all that was thrown at his post and when Austin Onyemaechi and all in the stands thought that the experienced shot-stopper had been beaten for the equalizer on 61 minutes, his effort crashed against the upright and bounced off for a goal kick.
More opportunities came for both sides to score but thrice the host hit the upright just as the visitors had the effort to hit the crossbar before grabbing the second goal deep into the second half added-on time to run away with a famous victory reminiscent of the 2-1 win the Umuahia side recorded on January 15, 2017, in the 2016/17 NPFL season.
Chief coach of Rangers of Enugu Mangut said after the encounter, “This was not the result we worked for but that is football for you. We hope to quickly overcome this huge setback and get back on the winning ways.”
While his counterpart, Erasmus Onu attributed the victory to the boy's hard work and attitude in training when asked about the secret behind the victory after the match.
" It was down to the boy's hard work, they are disciplined and cooperating with the training regime, their work rate was fantastic as well as a very discipline when you have all of these it makes the job easy."
The coach also comment on his approach to the season
" We have no limit, we may as win the league but we will take the games as they come, every match as their preparation", Erasmus said.
Rangers will next be the quest of Lobi Stars at their adopted home ground, New Joseph Stadium, Jos in a match day 2 fixture on Wednesday, January 18, 2023.
