By Solomon Nwoke
Emmanuel Daniel Rangers International of Enugu and Dream Team V1 Goalkeeper spoke with Sports Vanguard on his expectations in the All Africa Games slated for September 4 – 19, 2015 and the Olympic team, boasting that the Dream Team VI would come from Congo Brazzaville victorious. Daniel passed a vote of confidence on both his club coach, Kelechi Emetole and Dream Team coach, Samson Siasia.

Excerpts:

As the number one goalkeeper of Rangers, can you assess the performance of the club since the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)?

We thank God for today that we got a win over our arch rivals, Heartland FC of Owerri. Rangers have been struggling to find their feet since the league started. Again, thank God for today’s victory, it’s going to spur us to forge ahead and get back to our winning ways.

What will you say is the cause of the team’s poor run since the league started?

Daniel

Sometimes it’s like that, especially at the beginning of a league season in which case some players leave while others join the team. For instance in our attacking line of last season, we lost many of our players to other clubs, so blending with their replacements was not automatic for us to start performing very well. But I know that with time everything with be alright with us.

One goal against Heartland after eight weeks the league started, what does it mean to you?

It means a lot for us, though, the lone goal does not matter much to us, but the three points. The three points that we got today will not only be a moral booster for us, but will help to push us up on the league log. Beating Heartland was a big thing for us because if we had lost the match it would have dampened our morale, but with the victory we can forge ahead and look forward to the next match. The important thing is that we got a win.

How would you describe Heartland’s performance in that game?

I am in my third season with Rangers and normally whenever we play against Heartland it’s always tough. Last two seasons we beat them 3-1, but then, it has always been very tough games. They came with all their strength to beat us at home. We beat them again and I thank God for that.

What encouragement is the team getting from management?

For me, they are trying their best. Most times, it’s the problem of finance and you know that the elections just went by, so it was not that easy getting funds as all attention was on the election and it’s the same with every other club in the local league. Above all, they’re doing their best.

I observed during your match against Heartland that the terraces at the stadium were virtually empty what do you think is responsible for all that?

Usually, when the home team is not doing well in the league, the spectators turn their back to the stadium nursing the feelings that it will be a waste of time and money going to the stadium to watch a football match since their team will disappoint them by not playing well and winning matches. For instance, here, Rangers have been having bad runs since the league started, but I tell you check out in the next home match, the fans will start returning to the stadium since we have started winning again by beating Heartland. And if Rangers go outside and do well that again will attract more fans to the stadium because they will be expecting more. But I think it’s because of our poor run, yet they tried today because they even came out to cheer their home team.

What is your assessment of your coach, Kelechi Emetole?

He is a great coach, even though this is my first time working with him, he has a lot to offer. Notwithstanding that I have not been stable with the team due to national assignments with the National U- 23 team, he’s a good coach. It is not up to three weeks that I came back from the national team to join my club. I have played under many coaches and each one has his modus operandi, but in the case of Coach Emetole, he is so passionate with his job and wants us the players to know why he wants us to do something in a particular way and doing it well too.