Rangers International coach Fidelis Ilechukwu has attributed his team’s disappointing season to a combination of injuries and financial constraints, following their recent exit from the President Federation Cup at the hands of Kwara United and their failure to defend the Nigeria Premier Football League title.
Reflecting on the 1-0 semi-final defeat to Kwara United, Ilechukwu acknowledged the quality of their opponents but admitted his side’s carelessness cost them dearly.
He explained that Rangers prepared well but faltered particularly in the first half, saying the team started playing effectively only later in the match.
“Kwara United are a strong team with quality players. They have beaten top sides like Kano Pillars, Heartland, and Plateau United. We were a bit careless, especially in the first half, which affected our performance. That’s football,” he said.
The season has been especially challenging for the coach, who revealed that injuries severely disrupted his squad. He said at one point, as many as 16 players were sidelined, limiting training sessions and forcing caution to avoid worsening conditions.
“We couldn’t train the way we wanted because of the injuries. I am grateful to the medical team who worked hard to get players back. Four players even featured in this game while still nursing injuries,” Ilechukwu said.
Despite the setbacks, the coach remains optimistic about rebuilding as he recently signed a new contract to continue with Rangers. He emphasised the need to make tough decisions about the squad, including dropping some players, promoting others, and potentially recruiting new talent, all within the limits of the club’s financial capacity.
“If we are not financially strong, we will promote players and develop them. If Remo Stars can reach the Champions League using many academy players, then we can do the same if necessary,” he added.
Rangers currently sit eighth on the league table with one match remaining against Shooting Stars in Ibadan, having failed to win in 23 games and lost 13, a far cry from their title-winning campaign last season.
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