Enugu Rangers are now just 180 minutes away from ending a 32-year wait for the Nigeria championship, but coach Imama Amakapabo has said he won’t take anything for granted, insisting “anything could still happen”.
On Sunday with 20,000 expectant fans defying the pouring rain at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, Rangers regained the leadership in a tight title race after they defeated Sunshine Stars 2-0.
They are on 57 points, a point a head of closest Rivers United, with two matches away from their coronation.
Imama spoke exclusively as ‘The Flying Antelopes’ race on to an exciting end to the season.
QUESTION: Coach, you are 180 minutes away from winning an historic trophy.
IMAMA: Yes, I am excited, but then I have to keep the focus because in football anything is possible and that the trophy is in front of you a minute and the next minute, it disappears.
A hundred and eight minutes is a very long time for a lot of things to happen in football.
What are your immediate impressions of the tension-soaked match against Sunshine Stars?
I knew it will be like that because the expectations were that we will just roll over Sunshine Stars but we knew it will be a very difficult game because the Sunshine Stars are not just a team you could just roll over.
They have been good travelers too and they have got some good away results on the road. It was always going to be tougher than the match against Rivers United, who are not very good travelers.
It was a game we had to be very cautious about and take our chances when they come.
Most importantly, we got the three points.
Your closest rivals Rivers United, FC IfeanyiUbah and Enyimba all faltered on Sunday. Does that make it a lot easier for you heading to the home stretch now?
Like I said, looking at the other title contenders – Rivers United are not very good travelers, IfeanyiUbah have got a few results on the road but I also think that we have been good travelers and we have done our bit this season in terms of results.
We are away to Ikorodu United next and it is for us to keep our heads on our shoulders and do what we have been doing all season.
It is possible to score goals there, the records have shown that we are the highest scoring side on the road this season and so long as we score goals, we will be able to keep our heads and get the result that we want so that we could achieve our target for the season.
Thank you for your time.
It’s also my pleasure.
By Kola Daniel in Enugu