From the very first day of the Hollywoodbets Regional League 2025 season, coach Dangamane Nkabini said Rangers FC have been chasing one clear goal: To earn their place in the national playoffs.

“When the season started, I sat down with management, and they set the mandate for me. The mandate was that I should take the team to the national playoffs. So, I had to build a competitive squad that would challenge other teams.”

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For the most part, he has done exactly that. He has assembled a team packed with experience, and that experience has been key to their strong performances all season. The team now sits comfortably at the top of the log with 69 points after 26 games and, according to Nkabini, is determined to maintain its winning mentality throughout the campaign.

The team has, however, experienced some setbacks. Their impressive run was halted on Saturday when they were forced to settle for a tense 2-2 draw against second-placed Gomtown Boyz at the Alex Safe Hub. Despite the dropped points, Rangers still hold a massive 11-point lead over their closest rivals.

Their campaign has been built on efficiency. They have won 22 of their 26 matches, a record that underlines their hunger for a coveted spot in the national playoffs. Still, Nkabini is refusing to get carried away.

“I have been telling my boys that every team we play against comes with everything they have. We cannot relax. In every match, we have to bring our A game,” he said.

That warning rang true just last week when Rangers battled 13th-placed Ma-Africa to a narrow 3-2 victory at the Safe Hub. The close call, for Nkabini, served as a timely reminder that no opponent can be taken lightly, regardless of their position on the log.

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More importantly, Nkabini became aware of how close they came to losing their winning momentum. For a targeted team sitting in the league’s most coveted position, he knew the upcoming matches would not be any easier.

“The only thing I keep saying to the boys is that we must stay humble and remain grounded because the league isn’t over. But we still have good chances of reaching the target we set when the season began,” he said.

Now, as they prepare for Monday’s fixture against Apaa FC, Rangers will be eager to put the Gomtown draw behind them and return to winning ways to keep their long-term dream very much alive.

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