Enugu Rangers gaffer, Fidelis Ilechukwu has commended the strategic impact of GTI Group’s initiative towards the restructuring of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) following the successful completion of the 2023/2024 season.
The highly respected and fast-rising soccer tactician revealed this while speaking to GTI Head of Media Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, at New Jos Stadium shortly after their Match Day 38 tie in which his team defeated Gombe United 2-1 in the final match of the NPFL 2023/2024 season. Following the victory, the Flying Antelopes amassed a total of seventy (70) points and were crowned as NPFL champions before an appreciative capacity crowd of soccer fans at the venue that had the governors of Enugu, Peter Mbah and that of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang in attendance.
Ilechukwu who was full of praise for GTI said the efforts of the financial investment firm and its emergence in Nigeria’s football ecosystem is already yielding the desired results.
“The strategic impact of GTI on the NPFL in the past two seasons they came on board is commendable and top notch. In the just concluded 2023/2024 NPFL season for example, GTI did creditably well because having our games streamed and beamed live globally is a great initiative by the company,” he said.
However, having been officially crowned champions of the 2023/2024 NPFL season, Rangers received a whooping sum of one hundred- and fifty-million-naira (N150m) prize money from NPFL which elicited Ilechukwu. He further confirmed that all hands are on deck beginning from the coaching crew to the entire management of the team to ensure they have a successful outing at next season’s CAF Champions League in which Rangers will be flying the flag of the country at the continental level.
“We have started preparations and looking out on how to get more quality players into the team to fortify our squad as we build up for our continental engagements next season.
“It is very important we fortify our present squad because we know what it entails to play and challenge for trophies at the continental level. Frankly, we are preparing very well regarding this and we are optimistic that we are going to do well and make Nigeria proud at the continent,” Ilechukwu concluded.
