The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ilechukwu

  • Ilechukwu goes to school as Ekeh takes charge of Rangers

    Ilechukwu goes to school as Ekeh takes charge of Rangers

    Super Eagles assistant coach Fidelis Ilechukwu has disclosed plans to take a temporary break from club football at the end of the season to pursue further education.

    Speaking at a press conference in Enugu—his first since returning from AFCON duty—Ilechukwu stressed the importance of long-term development over short-term success.

    The Rangers International technical adviser outlined a vision focused on youth development, revealing plans for the club to rely heavily on feeder teams in the coming years.

    Read Also: EPL: Chelsea defeat Palace 3-1 to maintain top-four charge

    “Football is not only about winning trophies,” he said. “It’s about changing lives and producing players who can succeed in Europe.”

    Ilechukwu will take a short break before returning in the second week of February. In his absence, assistant coach Ekenedilichukwu Ekeh led Rangers to a 4-2 win over Warri Wolves in NPFL Matchday 22 played in Enugu yesterday.

  • Ilechukwu tips Rangers to  finish NPFL  season strongly

    Ilechukwu tips Rangers to  finish NPFL  season strongly

    Rangers head coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, has stressed that their home loss to Heartland was just a temporary blip as they target a good end to the season in the league and the President Federation Cup where they just qualified for the quarter finals.

    Ilechukwu  stated as such  after his side beat Bendel Insurance by a lone goal in a thrilling Round of 16 President Federation Cup fixture in Lagos.

    Godwin Obaje’s coolly taken penalty on the stroke of half-time was enough to secure the Flying Antelopes a hard-fought 1-0 victory. The spot kick came from a foul on the striker by the Edo Arsenals Goalie, Joshua Baba.

    Read Also: President Federation Cup: Ilechukwu fancies Rangers chances against  Insurance

    Speaking after the keenly contested encounter, Ilechukwu acknowledged the toughness of the opposition.

    “It was a great game for both sides. I expected a tough game from our opponents, and they showed the stuff they are made of, but we dug deep to get the desired win, and we give God all the glory,” he said.

    “We keep fighting and working on our team going into the last matches of the NPFL and the remaining games of the Federation Cup. We are still positive going into the end of the season.”

    Rangers’ reward for their victory is a quarter-final showdown against Plateau United.

    The date and venue for this highly anticipated clash will be determined by the competition organizers.

  • CAFWCL: Ilechukwu wants clinical Rangers against  Zilimadjou in reverse tie 

    CAFWCL: Ilechukwu wants clinical Rangers against  Zilimadjou in reverse tie 

    Rangers head coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, has berated his wards on poor marksmanship following  their slim CAF Champions League first preliminary round victory against US Zilimadjou of Comoros Islands.

    The Flying Antelopes were ok fire in the first half of the first leg tie scoring one and creating several others which they were unable to pull through.

    The Comoros’ side improved in the second half and could have restored parity with more composure in the final third.

    Ilechukwu in his post-match presser said his players must be more clinical in the second leg unlike  what  they did in the first leg.

    Read Also: Ilechukwu counsels  Rangers fans to be patient

    “I feel we did very well in the first half. It was a game we planned very well but lost many scoring chances. When you play football and you do not take your chances as expected, you will be under pressure. We planned to win the game well so that the next game would be easy for us but it didn’t go that way,” Ilechukwu told journalists in Uyo.

    “The next game would be tougher than this. We were so careless around the 18 yards box but we shall work to get it right. The only challenge we have now is that Comoros came out in the second half and the goals will missed in the first half would have haunted us. They may come into the second leg with more confidence.”

    The return leg comes up on Friday also at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo with Rangers designated as the home this term.

  • NPFL: Ilechukwu plots Remo Stars fall in Enugu

    NPFL: Ilechukwu plots Remo Stars fall in Enugu

    After a win on the road against Doma United, their first away win this season,  Rangers International Coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu says he would rather worry over their next game than celebrate the triumph in Gombe.

    A very determined display by the ‘Flying Antelopes’, deflated the hitherto high riding ‘Savannah Tigers’ with a 1-0 victory in a Matchday 21 fixture inside Pantami Stadium, Gombe on Saturday.

    Chinemerem Ugwueze squeezed in the all-important goal at the half-hour mark after being set up by Chidiebere Nwobodo who breezed past two markers before laying an inch-perfect pass that was met with decisive precision which Kingdom Osayi had no answer to.

    Ilechukwu was obviously delighted by the win and as is now an established routine of most Coaches in the NPFL,  he went spiritual, mouthing words of appreciation to “God for victory”.

    While counting the gains of such a significant win, the fancy-dressing young Coach did not lose sight of the fact that the league gets tougher in the end stanza.

    “It was a vital game and win for us, but as I have said in other forum  in the past, the second stanza would be tough and anything can happen”, Ilechukwu said to the media at the post-match parley.

    Read Also: Lagos Police warn intending protesters against road blocks

    Setting his sights on their midweek clash with Remo Stars, the Coach remarked rather philosophically, “This one has come and gone but we have a big game on Wednesday against a team we are looking up to as the next champion of the league.

    “So, we are not celebrating too much today. Doma United is a very solid and stubborn team with a good coach but in football, anything can happen. For now, we are focused on the visit of Remo Stars to Enugu on Wednesday”.

    With their first full points on the road, Rangers now occupy the 4th spot on the log with 34 points from 21 matches.

  • Ilechukwu reveals: Discipline key to MFM’s season

    Fidelis Ilechukwu reveals that discipline has been MFM’s secret this season in the Nigeria’s topflight.

    “Being disciplined has helped us this season, the experience from last season too has played a strong role in our performances this season. You’ll succeed in all that you do if you are discipline,” Ilechukwu told Goal.

    “Last season we started well but lost it at some point and couldn’t control it until we dropped to the relegation zone which was very difficult but thank God we were able to stay in the League on the last day.

    “Now back to this season, we are a much better side, a strong team with a lot of young players who are hungry for success and want to make a name for themselves.

    “To achieve that success, discipline is an important factor which we have imbibed. Though the league is getting to the closing stages we know that it’s not over yet until it’s over.

    “We are a team and that includes, the players, the technical crew, the management and every other person at the club because everyone plays an important role both on and off the pitch.”

  • Ilechukwu: Hold me responsible if MFM fail to pick ticket

    Ilechukwu: Hold me responsible if MFM fail to pick ticket

    Fidelis Ilechukwu has made a bold statement that he should be held responsible should MFM fail to clinch a continental ticket this season.

    The Olukoya Boys failed to maintain their outstanding first round performance in the 2015/16 season and only beat the drop on the last day of the campaign.

    However, MFM currently occupy the second spot in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and the manager has insisted they do not want a repeat of last season.

    “Hold me responsible if MFM don’t make the continent,” Ilechukwu told Goal.

    “The General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries , Dr. Olukoya has been  supportive to every one at MFM FC and it’s proper to make this motivation we enjoy count.

    “We have taken the start of the second half of the 2016/17 season like we are just starting a new season.

    “We don’t want the event of last season to repeat itself this season so we are focused on picking a continental ticket.

    “I am repeating it again that I should be held responsible if MFM don’t make the continent,” he said.

  • Ilechukwu, Udoh in race for league award

    Ilechukwu, Udoh in race for league award

    The League Bloggers Awards (LBA) has revealed the nominees in contention for the Player and Manager for the month of March in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

    Four players and four managers have been picked as standout performers for the month under review.

    Nasarawa United’s Kabiru Dogo, Abdullahi Biffo of Abia Warriors, Fidelis Ilechukwu of MFM FC and Kadiri Ikhana of Kano Pillars are vying for the manager’s award for March.

    Enyimba captain and former top scorer of the NPFL, Mfon Udoh, is the big name among the shortlists for the player’s award for March.

    Nasarawa United goalkeeper Suraj Ayeleso as well as Samuel Mathias of El-Kanemi Warriors and this season’s leading scorer in the Nigerian top-flight, Stephen Odey, are all in contention.

    Biffo, Dogo, and Ikhana all led their teams to 11 points each.

    Ilechukwu whose team played an additional two games in March owing to rearranged fixtures picked 14 points.

  • Ilechukwu: I want to build a formidable team

    Fhidelis  Ilechukwu has said his target is to build a formidable team in MFM FC, capable of challenging for titles.

    The Olukoya Boys have maintained a perfect home record in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) this season, but they have failed to replicate such form on the road, having picked only four points from their travels.

    “My target is to build a formidable team that can challenge for honours and that means we have to be at our best in every match we play,” Ilechukwu told Goal.

    “We have done well at home but we have been very close to wins away from home. Though we won at Sunshine Stars and drew at Shooting Stars but we had chances to have done more.

    “We conceded late in Katsina and Ilorin. Those were games we were in full control of but we lost. It may be due to fatigue but that has shown that we have to work more on that when we travel. We shall start with the trip to Calabar. We shall offer something different when we face Enyimba FC.

    “We have a pool of talents to pick from to fit into different patterns we adopt in each match so it will be a different MFM on the road when we face Enyimba this weekend.

  • We are good to go – Ilechukwu

    We are good to go – Ilechukwu

    Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club head coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu has stated that his wards are ready for hostilities in the upcoming 2016/17 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
    With less than five days to the start of the new topflight season, MFM FC’s gaffer believes the Olukoya Boys have prepared well enough to kickoff their campaign on a high in the new Nigerian topflight season.
    “We have prepared well enough but we want to use these remaining days to round up our preparation,” Ilechukwu told mountaintopfc.com.
    “We have signed new players in our team and I believe with the response from the players during our training sessions. I believe we are good to go.
    “With what I’m seeing the team will do well because their response in training shows that they are good to go. I believe that by God’s grace they will do well,” he said.
    Ilechukwu’s men emerged runners-up of the 4th edition of Nigeria’s most prestigious pre-season event, the Gold Cup, held in Ogun State last year after they lost the final to Lobi Stars 4-3 on penalties. They are expected to maintain their fine form in the league.
    The Lagos-based team will begin the new season with a home game against Niger Tornadoes on Sunday, January 15, at the Soccer Temple, Agege Townships Stadium.