The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Enugu Rangers

  • Enugu Rangers’ Bonsu wants NPFL title

    Enugu Rangers’ Bonsu wants NPFL title

    Nana Bonsu has charged Enugu Rangers to do more as they get closer to breaking the 32 years jinx.

    “Being my debut season in the NPFL it will mean a lot to me if we are able to become champions and I know so well that we shall do our best to lift the league trophy because it’s every player’s dream to win trophies with their team,” Bonsu told Goal.

    “Our next match is against Ikorodu United in Abeokuta and definitely we shall throw everything we’ve got at them to claim the maximum point. We are training hard to achieve one goal which is to become champions, we have gotten so close,  too close for us to give our all and by God’s grace everything will be fine in the end.”

    The Ghanaian in his debut season in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) isn’t ready to let go of an opportunity to lift the league trophy especially when Rangers are two matches away from ending the 32-year wait.

    The Flying Antelopes reclaimed the top spot on the log courtesy of a Bobby Clement brace against Sunshine Stars that earned them 57 points, a point clear of Rivers United who are on 56 points.

  • Enugu Rangers call for fans’ support

    Enugu Rangers call for fans’ support

    Enugu Rangers have appealed to their fans not to give up on them in their quest to put an end to their title drought after their last weekend’s home draw against Lobi Stars in a NPFL Match Day 28 tie in Enugu.

    The Flying Antelopes were expected to consolidate on their last away win in Uyo against Akwa United when they faced Lobi Stars last Saturday and they started the game well when they took the lead in the first half of the encounter.

    Things, however, went awry in the second half after Rangers’ players were guilty of many missed chances before the Pride of Benue punished them with the equaliser with slightly over 20 minutes left of the game and they were unable to find the desired second goal to put the game to bed.

    The General Manager of Rangers, Paul Chibuzor Ozor told SportingLife that their fans and supporters have been marvellous all season and that they have not given up on their league title aspiration because they plan to win it for them for their persevearance all these years.

    He said the management of Rangers has charged the players and the technical crew to approach their league tie against Enyimba in Port Harcourt with all seriousness because they will like to scoop the lost points at home against the People’s Elephant this weekend.

  • Lagos plans glamorous Federation Cup Finals

    The atmosphere will be enlivened with sports and entertainment as football fans are expected to have exciting moments in the finals of 2015 Federation Cup which will take place on Sunday, 22 November.
    This was disclosed by the Director General of Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Ayodeji Agbesanwa during a media parley ahead of the finals held on Thursday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
    According to Agbesanwa, the female final, which will take place between Sunshine Queens and Bayelsa Queens, will be played by 12noon,while the male final,which comes up by 3pm,will see Lobi Stars and Awka United slugging it out for the star prize of N2 millions at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
    Agbesanwa disclosed that the organising committee of the Cup Finals headed by Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, the Chairman of Lagos State Football Association, who also doubles as the First Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has been working round the clock to ensure a glamorous event.
    “We want to ensure that football fans enjoy good games in an entertaining and relaxed environment. We are planning an innovation where families will come to the stadium with their children to watch the finals. This will be the first of its kind the country, “said the Director General.
    “We also want to give the first 500 fans to the stadium free T-shirts, while all the fans that come to the stadium will be given raffle tickets to win fabulous cash prizes.
    “The Sports Commission has also opened a Twitter handle : @lagossportscomm where we expect fans to send exciting photos of past Federation Cups taking with players and some other stakeholders of the competition. We also want them to take selfies of themselves inside the stadium on that day and send them to our Twitter handle for them to win handsome prizes.
    “Three posthumous awards will be given to past football heroes, while nine awards will also be given to some living football legends including referee and sports journalist, ” he said.
    The 2015 Federation’s Cup Honorary list include former Shooting Stars strikers, Rashidi Yekinni, Baba Otu Mohammed of Mighty Jets, Best Ogedegbe, former Standard of Jos defenders, Okey Isima, Friday Ekpo , Sam Opone, Amusa Adisa, Inua Rigogo, Dairu Sadi, and Ifeanyi Ifeanyi Onyedika of Enugu Rangers.
    Others are FIFA graded referee Linus MBA, and veteran journalist, Segun Adenuga.
    Chairman of the organising committee, Akinwunmi said adequate security will be provided to safeguard the lives of people. He commended the structure put in place by the Lagos State Government that made it possible for the organization of the Cup Finals at a very short notice.
    “The delay of this year’s Finals was caused by transition in government, but we are happy that the event will finally take place. Sunday, 22 November is a day of Football Fiesta in Lagos State, ” Akinwunmi said.
    Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

  • Rangers eliminated from Federation Cup

    Rangers eliminated from Federation Cup

    Five-time champions, Enugu Rangers’ hope of winning a first title in 31 years ended on Wednesday after losing 0-1 to Lobi Stars in the Federation Cup semi final played in Katsina.

    The Flying Antelopes could not stop the “Makurdi Bombers” who will now face Akwa United in the August 30 final in Lagos, Goal reports.

    The game played at the Karkanda Stadium in Katsina put an end to Rangers’ aspiration who last won the tournament in 1984 when it was still known as the Challenge Cup.

    While Enugu fans lick their wounds and wait for the good times to return, Akwa United will go into the final hoping to win its first title after dispatching Nasarawa United 1-0 in Abeokuta courtesy of Udoh Aniekpemo’s strike.

    The women’s final will be contested by Sunshine Queens and Bayelsa Queens.

  • Rangers land in Emene for close camping

    Rangers land in Emene for close camping

    Enugu Rangers players and officials have arrived  Emene, an area on the outskirts of the state for camping  ahead of the new premier league season.

    Rangers placed eighth at the end of last season with 58 points from 38 games and this has made them to appoint seasoned coach, Kelechi Emeteole in place of John Obuh whom the management disclosed failed to meet up with the target set before him at the beginning of the season.

    Emeteole, the Caterpillar has been  the training regimen and after having as many as over 60 players that turned up for their screening,  the head coach cut down the players to 40  from where 35 players would be picked ahead of the new season.

    The Rangers’ Director of Media and Publicity, Foster Chime told SportingLife that the Flying Antelopes‘ players are training with the private facilities at Emene called Adorable Sports Complex which boasts of a standard Astro Turf and other facilities.

    Chime also told SportingLife that the Flying Antelopes have started talks with some agents with a view to taking to neighbouring countries like Togo, Benin Republic and Senegal for training tours and also for friendly matches.

  • Odah happy at Enugu Rangers

    Odah happy at Enugu Rangers

    Enugu Rangers’ forward, Onoriode Odah, has expressed satisfaction with his performance for the club this term.

    Odah joined Rangers last term and is in his second season with the former Nigerian champions.

    “I had a quiet outing last term, but at present I am experiencing a different atmosphere this season. I’m pleased with the role the manager, John Obuh, has given me. I’m always working hard to improve and it’s good to know I’ve provided assists for my teammates to score,” he told supersport.com.

    Odah, younger brother of Warri Wolves goalkeeper, Okiemute, has scored twice for Rangers against Abia Warriors and Bayelsa United, this term.

  • Enugu Rangers to players: Beat Enyimba, get N500k

    Enugu Rangers to players: Beat Enyimba, get N500k

    Enugu Ranger’ players have been promised N500 000 by their General Manager, Paul Chibuzor Ozor, if they beat ‘Oriental brothers’,

    Enyimba in a Glo Premier League Week 22 tie slated for Sunday, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

    The Flying Antelopes have been lukewarm since the beginning of the season and even lost 1-2 to relegation-haunted Nembe City on Wednesday.

    But Ozor told SportingLife he has charged the players to reciprocate recent good gestures of the Enugu State Government with an impressive display against Enyimba of Aba.

    The club’s General Manager said the commencement of enhanced salary payment early this week – among other things measures to motivate the players – should encourage them to give their best for the club.

    “We desire to get the three points (against Enyimba) and we are tasking the players to do so as a way of compensating for the huge investment in the team.

    Also, as a way of encouraging them, I have promised to give them N500, 000 if they beat Enyimba on Sunday,” Ozor told SportingLife.

  • Don’t let Rangers die

    Don’t let Rangers die

    • Fight for immediate release of funds to  Flying Antelopes

    Enugu Rangers’ fans have appealed to the state government to see to the immediate release of funds to their darling club and save the Flying Antelopes from further slide on the league table.

    The spirits of the coal city side are at the lowest ebb after the failure of the Governor Sullivan Chime led  government’s inability to see to the offset of the players’ salaries for some time , which has started to affect the players.

    Some of the clubs’ fans beckoned on the state government to facilitate the immediate release of the needed funds so that the Flying Antelopes’ bid to end almost 30 years of trophy drought would be realised.

    “We are appealing to the state government to release the necessary funds to Rangers so that the players and coaches can remain happy and be in one spirit to realise our objectives for the season – to end our trophy drought of almost 30 years. Something must be done very fast to save our season. We won’t entertain any excuse this time,” some angry fans said to SportingLife.

    Rangers are 12th on the log with 17 points from 13 matches but they are up against Sharks who have been very impressive both on the road and at home this season. The Blue Angels are on top of the log with 23 points from 13 matches.

  • Rangers decry unfair TV coverage

    Rangers decry unfair TV coverage

    • Want SuperSports at their away matches too

    Enugu Rangers have decried the double standards in the coverage of the premier league matches by the hosts broadcaster, SuperSports stating that it was important that all the clubs are touched in the spirit of fairness and equity.

    The Flying Antelopes said they are not perturbed even if all their home matches are beamed live by SuperSports citing their example last season where nine of their home matches were shown live while none of their away games was beamed for all to see.

    Making this observation in a chat with SportingLife, the General Manager of Rangers International, Paul Chibuzor Ozor noted that the trend has already started this season with three of their home matches already visited by the SuperSports crew while none yet away from home.

    Ozor pointed out that if the league must develop all the centres must be touched, be it in the north or south, adding that solely concentrating on certain match venues won’t signify progress in the area of league coverage.

    He admonished the hosts broadcaster to come up with their schedule to various league venues for the season so that teams would be duly informed and not the present contacting of clubs at short notice notifying them of their visit.

    “I want to boldly state that we are making progress in the area of league coverage because it is an added plus that are games are being shown on SuperSports. I commend the initiatives of the league’s organisers but I have a grouse with over concentration of league coverage to selected league venues. It is not good at all. Enugu Rangers had nine of their home matches shown live last season and we already have three this season.

    “The botched Rangers/Nembe tie, Rangers Versus Kano Pillars and the game with Sunshine Stars were all shown live for Nigerians to see but throughout last season, none of our away matches was shown. I want to appeal to SuperSports to ensure that there is balancing in the coverage of teams both home and away. There should not be double standards at all.

    “It is also vital that SuperSports tell us how their routine will be like at the start of the season. This will ensure that things are put in the right perspectives. I am not afraid even if they are willing to show all our home matches but what I am saying is that these coverage must also be done to those clubs’ away games,” Ozor told SportingLife.

    Rangers have not fared well this season as they could only boast of four points from possible 12. They have a tie with Nembe City today-a rearranged Week One tie in Enugu and Ozor has disclosed that based on the discussion between the players, coaches and the management that they expect the Flying Antelopes secure maximum points for their second win of the season.

  • Glory days to return to Enugu

    Glory days to return to Enugu

    Ada Stephen is looking forward to playing a prominent role with Enugu Rangers, vowing to bring the glory days back to the club.

    The winger returned to the Flying Antelopes fold after a loan spell with Akwa United last season, where he enhanced his reputation with a string of exciting performances. He admitted he went on loan mainly to play regular football and feels he is now ready to help the club challenge for honours in the upcoming season.

    “I am very happy to be back, and hopefully this would be a successful period in my career and with the club. I left for Akwa United in search of playing time and I am satisfied I’ve achieved my aim,” he told supersport.com.

    “I am also happy United did reasonably well while I was there. Now that I’m back with Rangers, I hope to bring something to the team to help win trophies, because it is important looking at the clubs history.

    “The club is loaded with good players, and we are capable of winning either the league or the Federation Cup. We are at present in camp in Onitsha and the preparations are moving well. We’ve played some of the local sides and there is good reason to be optimistic ahead of the start of the season.”

    Stephen also told supersport.com that new coach John Obuh is the right man for the job.

    “I believe the management specifically went for Obuh because of the giant strides he has made in his coaching career over the last couple of years. He is one of the top coaches and has the respect of the players, as well as stakeholders in the game. He was my coach at the national under-20 camp in 2010. We got along very well and I am confident my game will further develop under him,” he said.

    Stephen would face competition for the left-wing shirt from Bitrus Dada and former Sharks and Bayelsa United player, Terry Envoh.

    Rangers are one of the most successful Nigerian sides having won the league six times, and the Federation Cup on five occasions.

    They have also won the defunct African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977. However, they won their last trophy, the league title, back in 1984.

    The Flying Antelopes finished fifth in the NPFL last season, and got knocked out in the round of 16 in the Federation Cup by Akwa United, with Stephen scoring against his parent club in the 2-1 defeat.