By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

Angry fans of Rangers International Football Club, Enugu on Sunday called for the sack of the club’s head coach, Abdu Maikaba, following the failure of the club to secure a win in their match with Sunshine Stars of Akure.

The team which has so far continued to show a poor outing in the 2022/23 Nigeria Premier Football League are still looking for their first win of the season after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Sunshine Stars.

The match was played at their makeshift home ground, Awka City Stadium on Sunday with fans coming from both Awka and Enugu State.

Following the team's current bottom spot in Group B after claiming just one point from their opening three games, the fans had expected that they would buckle up to win their Sunday outing at the Awka City Stadium.

The match which lasted for 90 minutes ended with Rangers scoring their only goal in the first half while Sunshine equalised during the second half play.

Though the team was given a penalty shoot which was taken by Christian Nnaji in the last 8 minutes of the match, the team again failed to score, which made the fans furious as some walked out of the stadium, raining abuses on the team and management while others started calling for the sack of the coach, Maikaba.

In a post-match interview, Maikaba said that the club's problem is not purely technical, saying that the interview is not the forum to discuss it.

"We have worked so hard, but unfortunately things are not going the expected way. And l would like if it is going to be possible to meet the representatives of the government of Enugu state to terminate my contract.

“They see me as the problem of the team. I really love this team, they have treated me so well but if I’m the problem, l would love to go.

“I would like the termination of this contract. I will be happy with that. You are a living witness, to the problem, I don’t think it is purely technical but this is not the forum to discuss that. But to make it better for the team, if I am really the problem, it is better l leave so that the team will progress.”

On his part, the Chairman of Sunshine Stars Football Club, Tunde Ogunja, described the 2022/2023 season which began on Jan. 8 as interesting.

He said that his club is working hard to finish the current Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) season in any of the first three positions.

He said: “Even though the season is still young, we hope to be on the continent next season with at least a top-three finish this season.

While expressing satisfaction with the performance of his players, whom he described as youthful and promising. Ogunja noted that his team dominated their hosts and played to instructions.

With the draw, the Sunshine Stars have picked one point in their Match Day 3 fixture.

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