The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Enugu Rangers

  • Rangers root for abridged league

    Rangers root for abridged league

    Enugu Rangers have called on other clubs to embrace the idea of playing the next Globacom Premier League in an abridged format so as to really determine the rightful winner of the elite division.

    The Flying Antelopes’ General Manager, Chief Paul Chibuzor Ozor in a chat with SportingLife said an abridged league would lay to rest the notion that the best team does not end up winning the league.

    He noted that it would also ensure that the league season will harmonise with other nations ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    “The brain behind the abridged league is for all clubs to be divided into two groups based on their proximity from where four teams will emerge from each groups for a tournament at the end of the league season from where the league champions is known.

    “It will put an end to the perennial lingering crisis of determining who is real winner of the league. It doesn’t augur well for our league that only the South clubs have their matches televised live while those in the North are exempted.

    “About eight of our home matches were shown live last season and the winner of the league doesn’t even have any of its matches in Kano shown live at all. If four teams emerged from each group, they can be able to battle it out at Lagos or any other designated place to know the winner of the league. I am an advocate of the abridged league,” Ozor said.

    Rangers placed second in the league two seasons ago behind Kano Pillars but they dropped to fifth position last season with 58 points from 38 matches.

  • Eze denies threat to dump Enugu Rangers

    Eze denies threat to dump Enugu Rangers

    Enugu Rangers’ midfielder, Emeka Eze has distanced himself from the report in the media that he is seeking a move away from the Flying Antelopes where he got his premier league breakthrough some seasons back.

    Eze, who was discovered from a non league side in Enugu has become a household name in the Coal City side but the youngster has told SportingLife that he has not asked out of his present club.

    “I am happy in Enugu with Rangers and I don’t know where such report came from that I am unhappy and want to leave. Leaving Rangers now is like biting the fingers that fed me, with what I have achieved playing for Rangers, it is not yet time for me to leave the club.

    “I am not saying that I will end my football career with Rangers but when I decide to leave, it must receive the blessing of my present club because of what they have done for me. I am very happy with Rangers and all the officials at the club. Nobody should quote me out of context again,” Eze told SportingLife.

    Eze last Tuesday scored the lone goal that fetched Rangers a vital win in the friendly match the Flying Antelopes had with Nanka X1, which was played at the Nanka Sports Stadium, Nanka, Anambra State. Before the penalty goal scored by the midfielder, Rangers opponents whom they had previously beaten with relative ease were breathing down their neck.

  • Rangers use Rojenny for pre-season

    Rangers use Rojenny for pre-season

    A top official of Enugu Rangers has stated that the Flying Antelopes will proceed to Rojenny Sports Complex, Oba near Onitsha for a closed camping exercise in readiness for the start of the Globacom Premier League season for 2013/2014.

    The Coal City side ended last season in fifth position with 58 points from 38 matches but Rangers’ Director of Media and Publicity, Foster Chime has informed SportingLife that the Enugu based side would start making use of the facilities at the Rojenny Sports Complex immediately the players return from the short break granted them in the spirit of the Yuletide season.

    Chime said that the players and officials of the Flying Antelopes are expected back in Enugu by January 6 in readiness for the trip to Oba billed for January 9.

    Rangers represented Nigeria on the continent last season but their joy was cut short by administrative ineptitude worked on by eventual CAF Confederation Cup winners, CS Sfaxien of Tunisia.

  • Rangers to hire Chukwu as Technical Consultant

    Rangers to hire Chukwu as Technical Consultant

    Enugu Rangers will soon be unveiling former Heartland technical consultant, Christian Chukwu for the same post in the Flying Antelopes, a top source in Enugu has told SportingLife.

    Chukwu has been out of a job since he was sacked alongside other members of the Heartland of Owerri technical crew in the later part of last season, but respite will soon come his way when he is named to work with former Flying Eagles’ coach, John Obuh, who was given the technical adviser job of the team recently.

    The source hinted that Rangers and Chukwu have already reached an agreement but certain key areas that bother on technical matters are yet to be ironed out in order to spell out both coaches’ duties.

    The former Green Eagles’ skipper is also a member of the Nigeria Football Federation’s Technical Department.

  • Rangers to announce new coach Friday

    Rangers to announce new coach Friday

    Enugu Rangers have said they will announce on Friday a replacement for coach Okey Emordi, who quit his post at the end of the season.

    “We hope to unveil our new coach on Friday. We will appoint a credible coach who will win us trophies,” Rangers general manager Paul Chibuzor said.

    Speculation is rife that former Nigeria Under-20 coach John Obuh will be saddled with the onerous task of reclaiming lost glory for the Enugu club. Officials have disclosed that the eight-man backroom staff Emordi left behind will stay put for the new season.

    ‘The Flying Antelopes’, as Rangers are known by their fans, have not won a major trophy in about three decades.

    Emordi said he quit because he did not enjoy an enabling environment to discharge his duties effectively.

    Under the former Enyimba handler, Rangers placed fifth this past season after they were runners-up the previous season.

  • Enugu Rangers deny Obuh’s arrival

    Enugu Rangers deny Obuh’s arrival

    Enugu Rangers have denied plans that former Nigeria Under-20 coach John Obuh will replace Okey Emordi as coach next season.

    Obuh, who has quit as coach of the country’s Under-20 team after he led them to the Round of 16 at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey in July, has been sighted at several Rangers matches this season amid rumours he is in line to take over ‘The Flying Antelopes’.

    However, Rangers General Manager Paul Ozor has shot down such speculations, insisting they have total confidence in Emordi.

    “John Obuh is not coming to Rangers. I have not discussed anything with anybody on such a thing. I did not even see him the last time he came to watch Rangers against ABS of Ilorin. We are okay and satisfied with what we have,” said Ozor.

    Obuh was among the coaches linked with the top coaching post at relegation-threatened Nasarawa United before Kadiri Ihana was appointed.

    The former Enyimba and Sharks striker was in charge of Sharks last season. He has handled several other clubs including Kwara United and Niger Tornadoes.

  • Rangers are still contenders

    Rangers are still contenders

    With only four games left to the conclusion of the Glo Premier League this season, Okey Emordi is still confident in Enugu Rangers’ chances of winning the League title.

    Rangers are placed fifth on the log with 51 points from 34 games, and even though seven points separate them from table topping Enyimba, Emordi insists his team are still title contenders.

    “There is still a possibility of this club finishing at the top,” Emordi says.

    “Since it is possible, we are still contenders for the title, so we are still in the game and we mean business.We will try our best to win the remaining matches left and see what happens after that.”

    After beating ABS 2-0 in midweek,Rangers travel to Akure to face Sunshine Stars in Wednesday’s Week 35 cracker.

  • We’re better than 3SC — Okey Emordi

    We’re better than 3SC — Okey Emordi

    Enugu Rangers coach Okey Emordi says his boys are better than Shooting Stars FC in all ramifications, and are set to prove it when they both clash in the Glo Nigerian Premier League on Sunday.

    The Oluyole Warriors host the Flying Antelopes in a week 33 game of the league in Ibadan as the current season draws to a close.

    According to standings on the League Management Company website, Rangers are 5th, while 3SC are rooted bottom, and it is a motivation to Emordi.

    “We are better than Shooting Stars in all ramifications, if you look at the log we’re better than them,” he told futaa.com

    “I don’t think there should be any comparism. Every team have their problem but it is how you manage your problem that matters,” he added.

    In the first leg played in June, Rangers ran out 2-0 winners in Enugu, and the Ibadan side would want to pay back, more so that they are swimming in relegation waters.

  • Anyalogu, Emordi ready for CS Sfaxien

    Anyalogu, Emordi ready for CS Sfaxien

    Enugu Rangers captain, Godwin Anyalogu and his coach, Okey Emordi have declared that their team will stun CS Sfaxien in today’s CAF Confederation Cup.

    Anyalogu, who is available to start in goal for Rangers, said he and his teammates are not intimidated by the achievements of the Tunisian outfit.

    He acknowledged that CS Sfaxien emerging Tunisian league champions will not stop Rangers from reaching the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.

    “We are not intimidated by the record of the Tunisians. Yes, they were crowned Tunisian league champions only yesterday (Thursday) but on Sunday, it will be a different ball game. We are here to spill our blood to pick the group stage ticket,” the Rangers goalkeeper said.

    Emordi, who was named CAF Coach of the Year in 2004, is hopeful of his team’s chances.

    The ex-Enyimba coach also knows his men face an uphill task of avoiding defeat in Tunisia after winning the first leg of the playoff by a goal a fortnight ago.

    “We thank God for a very safe trip down here. We have not come here to count the number of beautiful buildings but to fight for the group stage ticket of the 2013 CAF Confederation Cup. It will be difficult but we have prepared well to do a good representation of Nigeria,” said Emordi.

    The Nigerian club travelled to Tunisia with a contingent made up of 15 players, seven technical officials, six management officials and five government representatives.

    The team held their first practice session on Saturday and where joined by the duo of Chisom Egbuchulem and Emmanuel Daniel who missed travelling with the team owing to visa issues.

  • ALLEGED ASSAULT ON MATCH OFFICIALS Taro, Coly to miss Confed Game for NFF’s hearing

    ALLEGED ASSAULT ON MATCH OFFICIALS Taro, Coly to miss Confed Game for NFF’s hearing

    Enugu Rangers’ duo of Seun Taro and Pierre Coly will miss Saturday’s CAF Confederation Cup 3rd Round Second Leg tie in Sfax between the Flying Antelopes and CS Sfaxien because they have been told to appear before the Organising and Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) today in Abuja.

    Both players were alleged to have assaulted the centre referee that officiated the premier league clash between Rangers and Warri Wolves in Enugu and they have remained suspended from the league ever since.

    SportingLife source revealed that the NFF’s O&D invited the two to hear from them their role in the beating up of the centre referee and remorseful they have been since then.

    SportingLife also gathered that Taro and his colleague, Coly, a Senegalese have been told to write an apology letter and an undertaking that they would be of good conduct henceforth as the NFF begins the process leading to the lifting of their suspension. They last played for the Flying Antelopes in the league during the Week 4 tie against Warri Wolves in Enugu but Taro featured for Rangers in the Coal City side’s tie against Recreativo Libolo of Angola in the futile CAF Champions League campaign.

    Rangers’ Director of Media and Publicity, Foster Chime who also confirmed the report said the Flying Antelopes had already released them for the hearing and that the club was confident that both players would be un-banned by the NFF’s O&D after the Thursday’s hearing.

    “Yes, we are aware both Taro and Coly will be going to Abuja to have a meeting with the NFF over their role in the our game against Warri Wolves. They have been told to write an apology letter which they have done. We are very hopeful that their ban will be lifted after Thursday’s (today) hearing.

    “They will not make the trip to Tunisia because of their meeting with the NFF,” Chime confirmed.

    The disputed Week 4 game ended goalless at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and although the NFF’s O&D met recently, they couldn’t decide on all the cases brought up but they shifted it till today.