By Daily Sports on October 7, 2016

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 of the season, Rangers shook off the challenges of Rivers United, Wikki Tourists, FC Ifeanyiubah and Enyimba to claim a historic league 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, silencing and getting the better of the title challengers 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 this season, Rangers took care of business, fixing potential pitfalls and leaving their rivals in no doubt as to their intentions. Trips to Heartland and Akwa United which in the past were tricky for Rangers were taken care of. They even got schooled those two opponents in front of home support but more important tests were against the 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 even started better on the day, dealing a first blow when Imama Amapakabo'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 equalized 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 who many opposition dressing rooms' tactic boards all across the country had become familiar with. A slim 1-0 scoreline did the trick, and during the title run-in, they went to Bauchi and held off the Tourists in front of their own fans, getting a point at the end of the 90 minutes.

Rivers United posed a different kind of threat. Stanley Eguma recruited a fine blend of experienced and dynamic players. The likes of Chinonso Okonkwo, Markson Ojobo, Idris Aloma and Sunday Rotimi are all league winners in the past while Ivorian Guy Kuemian boasted of CAF Champions League experience, Bernard Ovoke was the joker in the pack. A wave of his magic 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 Festus Austine-led defence.

They were to be the trickiest of the title challengers and while Imama's lads, inexperienced in title-hunting would have to make-up 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 virtually tilted the favourites tag to Rangers.

Rangers have not stumbled upon the league title, they have earned it. They are unarguably the most consistent side in the championship and that is from Matchday 1. They rarely left the top-four all year long and of all the challengers they spent the most time on top of the pile - about 110 days. Not even any of the challengers will feel the Enugu side have not deserved this.

Looking ahead, one would wonder what the tussle will be like next season. But that is a long time away, right now Rangers must bask in the euphoria and glory of this triumph. (npfl.ng)

•Photo shows Rangers champions

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 7, 2016

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