Enugu Rangers head coach Gbenga Ogunbote has hailed the impact of his substitutes who helped to overturn a three-goal deficit en route to beating Kano Pillars in the 2018 AITEO Cup final, describing their introduction as a rescue mission.
Rangers went two goals down in the opening half courtesy of Rabiu Ali and Alassan Ibrahim’s exciting goals before Nyima Nwagua added a third early in the second half. Ogunbote then rang the changes, introducing wingers Kelvin Itoya and Ajani Ibrahim who scored the first and last goals as well as goalkeeper Nana Bonsu who saved a penalty during the shootout.
“It’s not as if those that started were not playing well but when we looked at how the game was going, we had to make changes hoping for things to get better,” Ogunbote told www.aclsports.com
“Those that came on do start games sometimes too but before they came on, I told them that whoever comes on in the second half was coming for a rescue mission and it is fulfilling to see them carry that out.”
Maiden piece of silverware
Wednesday’s triumph was the first piece of silverware that Gbenga Ogunbote will win in his coaching career which is almost two decades old. He is much known for his dedication and the penchant for qualifying teams for continental competitions but the former Enyimba handler is delighted to have broken his duck.
He also hopes more will follow.
“It feels great winning my first major title and not just winning it, but doing it in grand style,” Ogunbote asserted.
“What makes you a good coach is your performance. People will say, if you want continental ticket, go for Ogunbote but we’re talking of trophies here and I hope it will not cease anymore.”
Rangers future
Ogunbote joined Rangers at the start of the last Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season after having left his former employers Enyimba where he also spent a season.
He has not led a team on the continental front since he led Sunshine Stars to the Champions League semi-final in 2012 but he insists the terms must be right if he should continue while saying that he is not desperate to coach a continental representative.
“I can’t say this (taking Rangers to the continent) emphatically because once you are not the owners of the institution, there is little you can do. I had a year’s contract with Rangers so if I said I wanted to stay and they say they don’t want me, what would I do?” queried Ogunbote.
“It’s not that I always like to leave after a year. For instance, it’s not as if Enyimba didn’t want to renew my contract last year but there was something we didn’t agree on because when you work, you want good comfort. The type of work that you know will not be absolutely comfortable with, you don’t take it. I thought about it that I won’t be comfortable totally with the terms so I left.
“Playing on the continent is not the most important thing but whichever thing you do, you get God’s blessing,” he concluded.
By the virtue of their title, a sixth Cup triumph, Enugu Rangers will now represent Nigeria in the 2018/19 CAF Confederation Cup, a tournament expected to start from next month.
