By Fisayo Dairo
Head coach of Rangers International, Salisu Yusuf claims his side played better in their 0-1 loss to Rivers United at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Yusuf’s side were undone by a 29th minute goal which was constructed by three former Rangers players. Kehinde Adedipe’s intelligently floated pass that was met by Godwin Aguda whose square pass was connected home by Fortune Omoniwari.
Yusuf told www.npfl.ng after the game that his side were better on the balance of play.
“They scored the goal and won the game but overall, in all areas of the game, I think we were the better team but they scored and won so it will be our turn next time to win,” said the former Enyimba FC head coach.
In what was Rangers’ first competitive game after nine months and twelve days, Yusuf lined out his wards in a 442 formation to mirror his opponents’ shape and although they enjoyed better parts of the exchanges, they lost to the odd first half goal.
Yusuf would however not vilify his lads for their first half showing as he insists that it is entirely normal at the start of the season.
“It was the first game of the season which is normal at times. Players will begin to complicate certain guidelines that make them to operate in better ways which is normal in the first two to three games.
“But in the second half, they came back to play accordingly, how we used to play and created some chances but we couldn’t score.
“It is the first game and I think, generally we do have our minuses in the first half and we go on to work on it in the second game,” added Yusuf.
Up next for Rangers is a home tie against Akwa United at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium in Enugu on Sunday. Akwa United, coached by a former league winner both as a player and coach Kennedy Boboye; enjoyed good returns over Salisu Yusuf’s side last season.
Akwa United drew 0-0 against Rangers in Uyo before inflicting a 1-2 defeat on the Flying Antelopes in Enugu, the only home loss in the league for Rangers under Salisu Yusuf.
Yusuf says their aim remains to win the league this term and they will continue to pursue that ambition on Sunday.
“We’re just in for the season. Our mission and objective is to win the league and we will continue in every game we play to give our best to see that at the end we achieve that,” he concluded.
