Seyoum Kebede: Defence Force will overcome Enugu Rangers

Defence Force SC head coach, Seyoum Kebede has affirmed that his team will turn the table against Enugu Rangers when they play the return leg of the Caf Confederation Cup preliminary round in Addis Ababa next week.

Godwin Aguda’s double gave a 2-0 advantage to the Flying Antelopes on Wednesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu in the first leg of the encounter but Kebede disclosed that his team will use their home game to their advantage to ensure they qualify for the next round of the competition.

Kebede decried his team’s early elimination in their past participation in the Caf Inter Club and that they must change the order of things regarding their poor results in Africa this term in the same competition by ensuring that they secure the result that will better Rangers’ initial leg outcome in Addis Ababa next week.

He attributed their loss to distraction in the second half having held their hosts to a goalless outing in the first half and he assured that Nigerian Federation Cup kings will feel their wrath in the deciding leg.

“It was a good match for us and I want to say that my boys played very well in the first half and the two goals they scored came as a result of some distractions which we are going to work on at home,” Kebede told media.

“We have the advantage in the return leg game before our fans because we are going to be playing at our pitch which we are familiar with too well. We can’t change the result of this game again and we must go back home and prepare for the second leg.

“We have not been doing well in the Caf Inter Club competitions because we have always been eliminated in the early round of the Caf Confederation Cup which we have taken part in but this year we want to change the course of the history of our club and go as far as possible. I will not like to talk about officiating because it is part of the game. In the next game between both clubs in Addis Ababa, I think you are going to see a different result than this.”

The Defence Force coach, however, blamed the match officials for their lopsided calls against his team and he beckons on the arbiter for the return leg to try and officiate according to Fifa standards.

“I am not happy with the referee because every single action of the match officials was against us,” he continued.

“We respect the decision of the referee but we will like them to be honest at all times. They must officiate to Fifa standards. I want to reiterate that Rangers will face a difficult time in Ethiopia because we are confident that we can turn the result of the game around.”