Sidebar

28
Thu, Mar
25 New Articles

Typography
ALMOST 20 years ago, film fans around the globe were rushing to cinemas for the latest movie featuring Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa character.


Rocky IV was the imaginatively titled 1985 release and the enemy of choice on this occasion was Russian boxer Ivan Drago, played by Dolph Lundgren.

Drago, for those who don't remember and those who simply don't care, kills Rocky's former foe and new best pal Apollo Creed during a charity match early on giving Balboa the excuse he needs to come out of retirement for one last fight to avenge his friend's death.

Naturally, after taking the obligatory pounding in Moscow on Christmas Day, he stages a comeback Frank Bruno could only dream about and beats his rival to a veritable pulp!

During one of the treatment breaks late in the bout, the battered and bruised Drago utters the immortal line 'he's like a piece of iron' and I just bet there are a host of SPL attackers who use these words to describe Light Blues powerhouse Marvin Andrews following 90 minutes of whole-hearted action.

Since his start against Kilmarnock last September, the Trinidadian has been a permanent fixture at the heart of Alex McLeish's backline and his performances have been of the highest quality.

Andrews, who remarkably has amassed just one booking all season, is a real cult hero with the supporters these days and a special cheer is always reserved for the big man when he makes his latest bone-crushing challenge or clears yet another high ball that is thrust into Rangers' penalty box.

Now, as we approach the business end of the season, the former Livingston star hopes to cap a tremendous debut campaign in Glasgow by getting his hands on the SPL championship trophy and the CIS Cup later this month.

The 29-year-old won the cup with Livi last term, of course, and is gunning for another glory day with the Light Blues.

Marv told Rangers World: "I am having a good time, most of the results have gone our way and I am enjoying my football. This is a big month for Rangers with so many big games ahead to look forward to, but every match will be important between now and the end of the season.

"I am really looking forward to the CIS Cup Final. It will be great to go back to Hampden again and I have the chance to win the trophy two years in a row so that is tremendous.

"If we could win the cup it would give everyone at the club a terrific boost for the SPL championship.

"Our confidence is already high but it would increase if we managed to win the first trophy of the season.

"It would be a tremendous achievement to overcome Motherwell on March 20 and everyone at Rangers Football Club will be working hard to do that.

"It would be a tremendous personal achievement to win the SPL and the CIS Cup in my first season at the club.

"My desire was always to win trophies here and we have a real chance of doing it."

Marvin, who notched his 32nd appearance of the season in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Inverness Caledonian thistle, was not expected to feature so heavily in the first-team.

He has won the support of the Light Blue legions and the Ibrox management, however, and is one of the first names on Alex McLeish's team sheet.

Marv, man-of-the-match last Saturday, said: "The fans have been tremendous with me and I always try to play the game with a smile on my face.

"Football is a game you have to enjoy. It is important to enjoy any job you do and I love playing for this club.

"Rangers are one of the biggest club's in Europe and it is a pleasure to wear the jersey.

"I have started every game since Kilmarnock in September and that means a lot to me.

"Not many people would have expected that but I trust in the almighty God and he has given me the strength to play here.

"God has made me what I am and I have to thank him for putting me in the team."

Andrews partnered Zurab Khizanishvili, Bob Malcolm and Jean-Alain Boumsong in the early part of the season and now Sotirios Kyrgiakos is alongside him in the back four.

Rangers remain unbeaten since Greek star Soti signed in January and Marv loves working with the former Panathinakos hardman.

He continued: "I am really enjoying playing alongside Soti. He is a very good, steady defender and we have worked well together so far.

"He doesn't know that much English yet but he is learning and we are getting better all the time.

"He is very aggressive and likes to attack the ball. I think he has settled in very well since joining in January and we have not lost too many goals.

"I think we have a good understanding on the pitch and there are no problems at all."

Rangers head to Dundee this Sunday for another vital SPL encounter, looking to bounce back from last weekend's draw with Caley Thistle.

Recent away victories over Hearts, Aberdeen and Celtic have given the Light Blues a real shot at the title and Marvin, who received the brunt of the criticism following the Scottish Cup defeat at Parkhead in January, knows winning on the road helps secure championships.

He said: "It is important to win away from home if you want to win the title and we have beaten a lot of good teams recently.
"You have to go to club's like Aberdeen, Hearts and Celtic and get three points and we have done that.

"We will have to continue to do that between now and the end of the season and it will be hard for us but we have the players to do it.

"The management team and supporters are all behind us and we will do our best to get the points we need to be champions.

"It was nice to win at Parkhead and keep a clean sheet but that is in the past now and we have so many important matches to look forward to.

"What happened in the Scottish Cup is behind me and I was just looking forward to playing Celtic there in the league.

"I just went out and gave it 110 percent and the whole played really well that day, especially in the second-half."

Marvin is totally focussed on his Rangers role but admits he is saddened by the decline of former club Livi.

The West Lothian outfit, who secured a top six finish and even featured in the UEFA Cup during Andrews' time at the club, are currently flirting with relegation and Richard Gough faces a real battle to keep them in the top flight.

Marv, as you would expect of the man, is keeping close tabs on their progress.

He lamented: "I really feel for Livingston. They helped me be a success in Scotland and I will always wish them well.

"They are at the wrong end of the table at the moment but Goughie has them fighting again and I hope they have enough talent to stay in the SPL.

"It would be a dream for me to win two trophies in my first season, hopefully God will make it possible, but I also hope Livingston can stay up."