By Sam Nnaji
It is hard to argue that Rangers are not worthy champions of the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.
Needing just a point in their last fixture, Rangers shook off the challenges of Rivers United, Wikki Tourists, FC Ifeanyiubah, and Enyimba to claim a historic title.
It was done in a spectacular manner: classic goals, beautiful and eye-catching attacking football; but more than all that, Rangers stood up to their rivals, getting the better of them when on head to head.
The title-winning points’ haul this season is significantly lower than Enyimba’s last season but with the manner of their triumph, Rangers took care of business, fixing potential pitfalls and leaving rivals in no doubt of their intentions.
Trips to Heartland and Akwa United, which in the past were tricky, were taken care of. Rangers even got schooled by those two opponents in front of home support, but more important tests were against title challengers, those Rangers passed in flying colours.
First up was Enyimba, a side Rangers surrendered four points to in their contests the previous year.
The defending champions started better on the day, dealing a first blow when ImamaAmapakabo’s creaky defence handed them a first half lead in Enugu.
A second nearly followed with Enyimba’s Joseph Osadiaye upended in the Flying Antelopes’ area.
It went unspotted by the officials and that was the platform for a remarkable second half turnaround that saw Rangers beat Enyimba in Enugu for the first time in three seasons.
They finished up the job, getting a point in the reverse fixture, as they instantly equalised Stephen Chukwude’s strike seconds before half time.
Then came Wikki Tourists. Abdu Makaiba’s side had made a promising start to the season and they came to ‘The Cathedral’ oozing with confidence. Having narrowly missed out on a continental place last year, they were going to go better this term.
Leading their attack was Godwin Obaje, a striker opposition dressing rooms’ tactic boards all across the country had become familiar with.
A slim 1-0 scoreline did the job, and during the title run-in, Rangers went to Bauchi and held off the Tourists in front of their own fans, getting a point.
Rivers United posed a different kind of threat. Stanley Eguma recruited a fine blend of experienced and dynamic players.
ChinonsoOkonkwo, MarksonOjobo, IdrisAloma, and Sunday Rotimi were all league winners in the past. Ivorien Guy Kuemian boasted CAF Champions League experience, andBernard Ovoke was the joker in the pack.
A touch from Ovoke’s left boot could produce instant solutions. Their season’s start had been ideal too and at their Yakubu Gowon fortress, no opposition player had breached the defence by Festus Austine.
Rivers United were to be the toughest of the title challengers and while Imama’s lads, inexperienced in title-hunting, would have to make do with a football style that produced goals home and away, an unflinching belief in the man in the dugout was sufficient.
Rangers avenged a 3-1 thrashing in Port Harcourt with a 4-0 win in the reverse fixture in the title run-in that strengthened Rangers’ resolve in their quest.
The penultimate Matchday eventually settled things. Rangers kept up their impressive away form, beating Ikorodu United in Abeokuta while Rivers United’s slip at home to Abia Warriors tilted the favourites’ tag to Rangers.
Rangers have not stumbled upon the league title, they earned it. They were the most consistent side in the championship from Matchday 1.
They rarely left the top-four all yearand of all the challengers they spent the most time on top of the pile – about 110 days. None of the challengers can feel Rangers did not deserve the title.
What will the tussle be like next season? That is a long time away. Right now Rangers must bask in the glory and euphoria of this triumph.
- Nnaji writes for lmc.org