We’ll do everything to beat Enugu Rangers, says Maikaba

Coach Abdu Maikaba of Akwa United has assured fans of the club of a total victory against former champion, Rangers of Enugu, in their first league encounter in tomorrow’s Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) fixture.

The Akwa boys are expected to showcase a glimpse of what to expect when the Confederation Cup begins next month, as they tackle the Coal City boys in Match Day One of the 2017/2018 season.

Speaking to The Guardian yesterday, Coach Maikaba said everything had been put in place to ensure that the team secures the available three maximum points at stake in tomorrow’s NPFL game.

“As you know this is the first game of the season and I believe that all teams are well prepared. On our part, we will not leave any stone unturned to make sure that our first game ends in a victory for us.

“Securing the three maximum points is our target and we have done enough preparation for us to see the result of our hard work during training. I hope our aspiration will be actualised at the end of the day,”

“I am assuring our fans that we will come all out to give our best so that we come out victorious against Enugu Ranger in tomorrow’s match,” he said.

Maikaba, who is also the head coach of the Under-17 junior national team, and who will guide the club in their quest for a laurel in the Confederation Cup starting next month, however, doused any thought that the team would be missing Gabriel Okechukwu, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and Sunday Faleye.

The three players, who are currently with the CHAN Eagles in Morocco for the African Championship of Nations, according to analysts are key to the team achieving success both in the NPFL league and at the continental championship this year.

“We have three of our players at the CHAN championship, but I do not think their absence will affect us in any way going by the qualities we have in camp. Now, the team has a very good reservoir of players, and in the absence of these players we have effective replacement on ground,” he stated.