Rangers assistant Coach Gabriel Emmanuel has revealed his team will waste no time thinking of how to stop Kano Pillars hit-man Junior Lokosa, but rather focus on their own game.
Rangers and Pillars will do battle today (Wednesday) to the determine the winner of the 2018 Aiteo Federation Cup, at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
However, one key factors in the game will be Junior Lokosa, who finished top scorer of the 2018 NPFL with 19 goals and has scored four time in the Aiteo Cup to lead Kano Pillars to final.
For Rangers to have a chance of winning in Asaba, they must keep Lokosa quite for the duration of the game and far from their 18 yard box.
While speaking to the press after the team’s final training session on Tuesday, Emmanuel said the Flying Antelopes are more focused on the team than any a single player.
“Lokosa is a good player,” he said. “He does some things simple that a lot of players do not- his positioning. But once he cannot get the ball, he doesn’t get to play.”
“We are looking forward to trying as much as possible to avert the supply to Lokosa but it’s not just about him but the team. Everyone in the Pillars team is capable of scoring, so, we are not putting any focus on any particular player. We just want to play as a team on and off the ball.”
Rangers has won the competition on five different occasions , Including the epic 1975 final where they pipped Shooting Stars to the cup, they also won the 1974 edition beaten Mighty Jets 1-0 in the final.
Emmanuel added that his Club are prepared to continue their rich history in the competition and are not willing to allow Kano Pillars taste their first glory in competition.
“(We are) very prepared, very prepared,” he added. “It is a big one for us, we know, but Rangers are known for winning titles and we want to continue that.”
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