NPFL: We're Not Frighten Of Kastina United - Abdul Maikaba

By Oluwayemi Omolagba

Ahead of tomorrow's clash with Kastina United, head coach of Rangers International Abdul Maikaba has fired strong warnings to their opponent while also stating that he is in no way scared of them despite their recent reinforcement, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Currently 3rd on the log behind Rivers and Plateau United, Enugu Rangers have their sight on clinching one of the continental slots and Maikaba believed they will start the push for it when they host Kastina United tomorrow.

He also expressed his disappointment with Rangers failure to pick any point against Lobi Stars in Markurdi on Sunday.

"Actually we came from our first game of second round against Lobi, we're not happy about the result, we never expect it but it happens in football so that's why our next opponent no matter who the opponents are and Kastina United, remember we got the maximum three points in Kastina and no two games are the same."

In the reverse fixture played in Kastina, Rangers were 2-1 winners against their host and Maikaba knows Kastina will come with a fighting spirit tomorrow to revenge their first leg loss at home, but his boys knowing the importance of the game will get the needed result.

"They'll try to be difficult here but we should understand that we need this point, our players should understand that we need this three points more than Kastina. We need it to survive the drop and we need it to be in the top three so I believe my boys are very ready to make sure we replace the lost points in Markurdi as quick as possible and that's tomorrow."

Regarding his team's injury worries, he said: "Yes for the last seven match days we have been struggling more especially in the middle of the team where most of the players playing in that position were injured or sick. 

"Players like Shedrach, players like Ugwochukwu, players like Zaidu Adamu, they are key players when we started but we have been missing them for sometime and I hope they will be back as soon as possible."

Reacting to the scare that could come his way as a result of Kastina United's massive recruitment during the mid-season break, he said:

"Football is all about togetherness, its a team game so you're talking of something that happen in one week or two weeks and this group they have been there from the beginning of the season, I believe if we're talking of football we have advantage over them so that doesn't frighten me at all and I hope the level of our cohesiveness will give us an edge over our opponent in tomorrow's game."

A win for Rangers tomorrow will help solidify their position on the log while Kastina United will hope they can push clear off the relegation arena with at least a point in the game.