Ahead of their 2018 Aiteo Cup final against Kano Pillars on Wednesday, assistant coach at Rangers International, Gabriel Emmanuel says the club has no special plan to cage Pillars danger man, Junior Lokosa.
Lokosa was the top scorer in the Nigerian Professional Football League, NPFL, with 19 goals and has continued his scoring form for Sai Masu Gida in the Aiteo Cup, netting four times.
However, speaking to Aclsports.com immediately after Rangers had their final training session at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Emmanuel says the Flying Antelopes are more focused on the team than any individual.
“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 eligible to score, 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 are back in the final for the first time since doing so and losing in 2007. But with five cup wins in their history Emmanuel adds that the Enugu side are ready to put that loss over a decade ago behind them.
“(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.”
Rangers survived a scare in the semifinal of the Aiteo Cup, coming from two goals down to defeat Nasarawa United 4-2 in Kano.
It is the Flying Antelopes’ first appearance in the final since the competition was rechristened Aiteo Cup and they battle Pillars for the chance to claim a first cup win in almost three decades.
