By Alpha Abu
After a disappointing 1-1 score line at the Southern Arena last Saturday, Bo Rangers could still make it through the CAF club champions preliminary stage, if they put up a similar pulsating performance but with more calmness in front of goal, when they face their opponents San Pedro away in the return leg in the Ivory Coast, on Sunday 25th August.
If only had they converted a couple of their chances they would have headed to face San Pedro looking better placed mathematically to get to the next stage of the competition.
Coach John Keister must be credited for giving a nod to attacking football and that really panicked San Pedro and inhibited any desire they may have to getting their forwards pushing all the time in Bo. One could see that the Ivorians were thoroughly rattled by the incessant onslaughts by Bo Rangers. They were clearly taken off guard by such a showing.
Bo Rangers Chairman, Babadi Kamara watching from his Executive suite at the southern arena could have been pleased at the display from his boys.
Rangers no doubt have won many plaudits, not the least the legendary Mohamed Kallon, for such an encouraging performance.
One thing though that Keister must be criticized for was his slowness in recalling under –performing players; he should be ruthless in dealing with players out of sorts. It is never too early to do so in a football match otherwise it could be costly.
Bo Rangers should be mentally and physically prepared to take on their opponents away from home. They had that in abundance last week, and they should equally be ready to do same in Ivory Coast. A steady nerve is something they need, coupled with a tidied back line, reassuring midfield, and an incisive forward line.
Towering goalkeeper Anthony Chinedu Udeh should maintain his calmness whilst we expect the prolific Musa ‘Tombo’ Noah to lead the attack.
Main referee Pierre Jean Nguiene will lead his counterparts from Congo in officiating the match whilst Claude Paqui from Benin is to serve as match commissioner.
Right overhead the huge gate ,at the southern arena, is the bold statement- ‘Dreams are Achieved Here’ and looking back, just how close Rangers came to realizing that dream. Now they have to dream the dream, away from home!
The red roaring Lions will take on ASC Jaraaf of Senegal also on Sunday in CAF Confederation Cup preliminary stage. Lions lost the first leg as hosts by a solitary goal at the southern arena last Sunday. They have a huge task at hand but nothing is impossible in football. Lions have got the players to turn things around. We are hoping they make it .Victory to Sierra Leone’s two representing clubs!
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