INTERVIEW: We Want To Win Champions League This Season – Enugu Rangers’ Coach, Ilechukwu

Enugu Rangers coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu has revealed that the club will be focusing on doing well in the CAF Champions League ahead of winning the Nigeria Professional Football League title for a second consecutive time.

Ilechukwu led Rangers to their first NPFL title since 2016 in his first season in charge of the club.

Ahead of the CAF Champions League preliminary round against Comoros side, Zilimadjou on Sunday, Ilechukwu sat down with THE WHISTLER’s Taiwo Ibrahim to discuss his plans and objectives for the 2024-25 season.

Congratulations on winning your first ever NPFL title last season. How do you feel with the victory?

I’m so happy because I have waited so long, and have worked so hard to achieve it. I did my best at MFM and Plateau United. I didn’t expect that I was going to win the league in my first season at Rangers that makes it exciting.

How would you describe the support of the Enugu Rangers fans?

Seriously I don’t know how to explain how the fans have been good to me, that shows me that Rangers is totally different from every other club, their support has been massive, they stand by you during good and bad times. I appreciate them so much.

You are currently getting ready for the Champions League clash. How is the preparation, and how are the players taking the clash?

We are working seriously on the psyche of the players to get them ready for the game because it is an important game. They are ready to give their all to win the match more so, I have not seen this kind of love from Uyo people, from the FA, from the people and they have made us feel at home, their support is a big advantage for us.

What is your target for Enugu Rangers in the CAF Champions League?

The target is to get to the group stage, in the past, I have gotten closer with MFM and Plateau United. We need to work hard to qualify for the group stage. Winning the first game is not always an issue, It is about winning in the second leg.

No team has ever won the league two times in a row since Kano Pillars in 2014. Do you think Rangers can repeat the feat?

Rangers are the underdogs in the league. We don’t want to put ourselves under pressure to win the league. We want to concentrate more on the CAF Champions League, targeting such records can put you under undue pressure. There are teams who need the league badly and they are going to do everything to win it. Rangers can’t fight for the title.

.

Any area of improvement that you want the organisers of the NPFL to work on?

I want to urge the organisers to work on the security aspect because this is why fans will come to watch games. They need to know that when they come to the stadium, there will be no problem. They also need to look into the issue of the playing turf by making sure that clubs have a good playing turf to make football enjoyable and a conducive environment.

They should also consider showing the NPFL matches on TV like they did last season, showing more matches on television is a very big advantage to solve most of the challenges of Nigerian football.

Are you satisfied with the level of activities in the transfer market?

Last season we built; we are rebuilding this season because we have lost some players, we are trying to make the new players understand the philosophy of the team. We have to focus on the team as a whole not only on individuals, team understanding, tactical understanding to make sure that the team gets the required results.

What we have now is enough to take us to the end of the first round.

Are you still nursing your Super Eagles coaching dream?

I’m ready to coach Nigeria if the opportunity comes as a head coach or as an assistant coach, I will take it with my full hands.