Enugu Rangers captain Ugwueze Chinemerem is optimistic about getting a good result in Sunday’s CAF Champions League first leg, first preliminary round fixture against Comoros Islands side, U.S. Zilimadjou, at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
Speaking shortly after the Nigerian champions arrived in the Akwa Ibom State capital on Wednesday, Chinemerem said they respected their opponents but they would do the needful to secure a plausible result, having prepared intensively for the encounter.
He said, “We respect our opponent, but we shall do the needful, by God’s special grace, on the field of play. We have intensified our training since the preparation for the new season started, and with the level of motivation in our team, we shall come out with a good result.”
This was accentuated by the team’s assistant captain and shot stopper, Opubo Japhet, who said, “I believe we have all it takes to get a good result on Sunday in Uyo. Though not much is known about our opponent, we give them their respect as the champions of Comoros, but we have our game plans.”
Twenty-six players, coaches, backroom staff, and other top management officials of the Flying Antelope arrived in Uyo on Wednesday, the same day their opponents arrived in the country.
According to Thursday’s release by the club’s media department, Fidelis, the players are poised to defend the badge of the club and the flag of the nation, Nigeria, as the Flying Antelope return to continental football after four seasons.
The team have been in an intense training regime for the past three weeks in Enugu under the tutelage of Fidelis Ilechukwu and his able lieutenants, and they are rearing to go against the Comoros league champions, who arrived in the country on Wednesday.
The match that promises a lot of entertainment will kick off at 3:00 pm, while the reverse tie holds at the same venue on Friday, August 23.