By Sobenna Nwagbo

It is not often that people visit cathedral, but when they do, it is always to pray, offer thanksgivings or worship. So it was not surprising that on Sunday, the last day of February, Heartland FC of Owerri visited Enugu Rangers “Cathedral”, this time not to pray but to play.

At the end of the 90 minutes “praise and worship” in the heat of a Sunday sun inside the Rangers Cathedral auditorium, Heartland bowed to the firepowers of the “Flying Antelopes” who refused to be cowed by their missiles and “warfare”.

It was a derby encounter of Matchday 13 of the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL and the venue was the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu otherwise known as “The Cathedral” where Rangers has made their fortress.

The “Flying Antelopes” who were caged 2-1 by 10-man Wikki Tourists of Bauchi in the midweek clash found their rhythm to outclass their brothers from the Eastern Heartland, Owerri bu 2-0.

Rangers defeated “the Naze Millionaires – Heartland Football Club of Owerri by 2 unreplied goals to climb 3rd on the NPFL table.

Coach Salisu Yusuf reintroduced the Ghanaian Goalkeeper- Nana Bonsu back to the post resting Femi Thomas and a couple of other players after last minutes painful loss to Wikki Tourist in Bauchi Wednesday.

The Goalkeeper, Nana Bonsu who is so happy that Rangers has continued on a winning side when he is on the post and thanked God for the opportunity.

Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu of Heartland attributed the loss to defensive errors and thanked God it ended in 2 – 0.

According to him, “it could have been 4-0”. He also complained of fatigue and not having possible replacements for some players in his team.

According to Coach Salisu Yusuf, “Rangers is a work in progress, and I thank God we are still in contest for the trophy”.

Next Rangers match is on Sunday, 7 March with Kano Pillars. This will be the first time Rangers will be playing in Kano with the Pillars (though in adopted Kaduna) since after the dramatic “Asaba Miracle” in 2018 FA Cup final.

Rangers and Kano Pillars are on the same points on the log, same goal difference and number of matches played in the league though they are second and Rangers third.