Rangers International Ibrahim Olawoyin is primed to be the new sensation of the Fying Antelopes as the new season gets underway this weekend for the 2016 NPFL champions.
Rangers are away to Gabonese side AS Pelican for their first leg, first round clash in the CAF Confederation Cup on Saturday and the team will be taking a slightly different look from last season.
A new coach; Benedict Ugwu fondly known as Surugede during his playing days with the Enugu based side is now in charge after the departure of Gbenga Ogunbote.
Ugwu has brought in some new faces to his team but the addition of Olawoyin who excelled in the colours of Abia Warriors in his maiden season in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) last term looks most exciting on paper.
Olawoyin started twenty-one (21) out of Warriors’ twenty-two (22) league games last term with his pace and trickery down the the flanks earning him fascinating aliases such as “Nigerian Hazard” and “Wing wizard” from his admirers.
At Rangers; a bigger club than Warriors, the 21-year old has been handed the Number 17 jersey vacated by Bright Silas, one of the club’s top performers in the Confederation Cup last term. He is however not fazed by such a big shoe to wear as he believes in his own ability.
“It’s a dream come true for me, joining one of the most successful clubs in Nigeria,” began Olawoyin to www.aclsports.com
“I am very much happy, I know the type of player I am, I know what I can do with the ball, in short I don’t know where I can find myself in the world, I will perform.
“I so much believe in myself and almighty Allah that any club I play for I’m going to perform very well,” adds the young winger with great confidence.
During pre-season, Ibrahim Olawoyin has set tongues wagging already with goals and assists aplenty. His brace (and an assist) against Heartland in a 4-2 win a couple of weeks back left players and management of his opponents in awe of this new sensation.
Olawoyin also scored the lone goal in their 1-0 win over Warri Wolves while adding an assist in the Enugu Super Cup win over FC Inter. These are local pre-season games though; the real one starts on Saturday in Gabon.
“I am physically and mentally ready for the big one. I think the pre-season games I played with my team will help us in the continental games. I also believe that with the help of my teammates, I will be very happy if I can score on my continental debut,” continued Olawoyin in this chat with www.aclsports.com
With Rangers now without their top two goal scorers in the Confederation Cup last term Godwin Aguda (6 goals) and Silas (5 goals), all eyes will be on the blossoming Olawoyin to create and get the goals needed for continental success.
