The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rangers International FC of Enugu

Rangers Int’l FC Goalkeeper, Nana suffers injury relapse

Rangers International FC of Enugu goalkeeper, Bonsu Nana, has suffered a relapse of the injury picked in a match against Lobi Stars of Makurdi in the first stanza of the league.

The goalkeepers’ hope of coming back to competitive football in the next three weeks was dashed as he was placed on rest by the club on Friday due to the relapse.

Nana had been training with the rest of the goalkeepers before the unfortunate relapse which made him miss training on Friday morning.

Speaking to newsmen in Enugu, Nana expressed disappointment over the delay saying that he never dreamt of it.

“The injury I sustained against Lobi Stars of Makurdi has gone but just that I am still behind in fitness.

“I remember how long the injury took to heal which forced me to travel home coming to the end of the NPFL first stanza.

“It is unfortunate that injury struck again on my right knee which now placed me on a treatment table for the moment and I believe that all these things will soon be over,’’ he said.

Nana said that he came back from Ghana in the beginning of the second stanza of the league fully fit hoping to take back his position in the club soon.

“My brother, all I know is that this injury will soon go and I will play a part in my clubs’ quest for the continental ticket which will brighten my chance for national call up.

Rangers goalkeeper trainer, Suleman Shuibu, had earlier in the week, said that Nana was free from injury but had three to four weeks to be 100 per cent fit for competitive football.

June 2, 2017
Breaking news: Imama Amapakabo gets three-match ultimatum

The management of Rangers International FC of Enugu have handed a three-match ultimatum to its technical adviser, Imama Amapakabo and his technical crew to start winning matches or face sack.

The must win matches starts from Sunday’s match day 15 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) encounter against Katsina United.

The club’s Director of Public Relations, Media and Publicity, Foster Chime said that the management, after an extra-ordinary emergency meeting on Friday, took the decision as a result of what it described as a persistent abysmal performances in the NPFL and the CAF Champions League competition.

The decision compels Amapakabo and his technical crew to improve on their performance by wining Katsina United’s game and next two home matches or be ready to step aside.

The meeting, which was chaired by the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, Christian Chukwu equally urged the players to improve on their performances.

He also advised them to be committed and dedicated to up their game in the next three matches as all eyes are on them to redeem the image of the club in the upcoming CAF Confederations Cup as well as the remaining NPFL matches.

March 24, 2017
CAF Confederation Cup: Rivers Utd, Rangers get opponents

Rivers United FC of Port Harcourt will face Rwanda’s Rayon Sport in the first leg of the final qualifying round of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Also, Rangers International FC of Enugu will be away to Zesco United of Zambia in first leg of the final qualifying round of the competition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the African Football Confederation (CAF) released the draws on Tuesday.

NAN also reports that Rivers United was dumped out of the CAF Champions League to the Confederation Cup with a 3-4 aggregate having lost 4-0 away to Al-Merrikh of Sudan.

The first leg ended 3-0 in favour of Rivers United in Port Harcourt.

Enugu Rangers having lost 1-4 to Zamalek of Egypt in the first leg could not score the number of required goals to take them to the group stage.

The Flying Antelopes defeated Zamalek in Enugu 2-1 to go out of the competition 5-3 on aggregate.

According to CAF, the matches are scheduled for April 7, 8 and 9, while the return leg holds from April 14 to April 16.

March 21, 2017
Football enthusiasts berate FC IfeanyiUbah players’ performance

A cross-section of football enthusiasts in Nnewi on Sunday expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of FC IfeanyiUbah in spite of the club’s 1-0 defeat of Rangers International FC of Enugu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nnewi-based Anambra Warriors scored the lone goal from a penalty kick by Prince Aggrey.

The Warriors, who were largely on the defensive due to the Flying Antelopes’ firepower, had missed scoring from a poorly-taken penalty kick by Seka Pascal in the 45th minute.

One of the fans who spoke to NAN, Uchenna Okonkwo, blamed the team’s poor marksmanship on their high turn-over of players, saying this made them to be uncoordinated during the game.

“It’s a fact they won, but FC IfeanyiUbah don’t deserve it. Rangers played better.

“They are not playing like a team and the coach seems not to be in charge,” he said.

Another football enthusiast, who said he was simply Godwin, noted that the game was not interesting because of questionable calls by the referee.

Godwin called on the League Management Company (LMC) to take a closer look at those entrusted with handling games as they were not encouraging its development.

“The officiating was poor. So many questionable and unnecessary calls. I enjoy good football, no matter who is winning, but if it is like this in Europe, we won’t be spending time to watch their games.

“But the way people left the game here after the first half did not show that all is well. Even the penalty kick awarded the home team could not keep them back,” he said.

Coach of the Enugu-based Rangers side, Imama Amapakabo, on his part hailed the performance of his players, adding that they did their best.

Amapakabo however urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to monitor the performance of match officials.

“Some people are pulling the league back. The NFF should monitor games. I think the referee was responsible for FC IfeanyiUbah’s win,” he said.

On his part, coach Yaw Preko of FC IfeanyiUbah called on his team’s supporters to get behind the team as they needed their support.

Preko said what was important was getting the maximum three points in a game against the competition’s defending champions.

February 6, 2017
Rangers are mentally fit for Akwa United

Players of Rangers International FC of Enugu have said that the home win against El-Kanemi of Maiduguri have put them in a psychological victory ahead of the match day four of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash against Akwa United in Uyo on Wednesday.

The Flying Antelopes defeated Borno Army 1-0 courtesy of Bobby Clement’s 67 minute goal in the match day three game on Sunday.

The club’s media officer, Foster Chime revealed that the players have shifted their focus to Akwa United encounter and resolved to pick the maximum points to maintain their winning formula.

According to the players, the away draw with Nasarawa United followed by the victory over El-Kanemi have brought back their winning mentality and geared them towards reclaiming the number one spot in the league as the reigning League Champions.

The players believe that the return of the likes of Chisom Egbuchulam, Odah Onoriode and Ugwu Nwadiegwu will propel them to another league title this season.

The club’s technical adviser, Imama Amapakabo described Rangers’ 1-0 victory over El-Kanemi on Sunday as a morale booster for his players to confront Akwa United.

An optimistic Amapakabo said that “the issues of goal scoring will soon be a thing of the past as the technical crew is leaving nothing to chance in correcting the problem of missing scoring chances even when a lot of chances were created.”

Imama believes that the lapses observed in the team’s first two games will be corrected in the subsequent matches as he assured Rangers fans that the club will continue its winning feat.

January 24, 2017