The Nation Newspaper

Tag: RANGERS

  • Wikki maintain top spot, Rangers move up

    Wikki maintain top spot, Rangers move up

    Wikki Tourists consolidated leadership of the Nigeria league after they beat El Kanemi Warriors in a northeastern derby on Wednesday.

    The Bauchi club now have 37 points from 20 matches.

    Their match winner was former Flying Eagles striker Abubakar Lawal, who fired home in the 57th minute off a curling cross.

    However, Enugu Rangers are within striking distance of the table toppers after they pipped Kano Pillars 1-0 in Enugu, also on Wednesday.

    After a scoreless first half, defender Adamu Murtala sliced the ball into his own net in the 56th minute following pressure from Rangers striker Bobby Clement.

    In other games on Wednesday, Abia Warriors played out a 1-1 draw at home with bottom club Ikorodu United, Niger Tornadoes beat Plateau United 1-0 and Akwa United and Sunshine Stars played out a thrilling 3-3 draw.

  • Rangers’ Echugbulam returns to training

    Rangers’ Echugbulam returns to training

    Chisom Egbuchulam has resumed training with Enugu Rnagers after recovering from malaria.

    Chisom has been down with malaria since the Flying Antelopes’ match at home to Heartland on NPFL match day 19.

    “I resumed back to training on Friday,  I feel strong and very ready to go,” Chisom told Goal.

    Enugu Rangers, who were without the forward in their round of 64 Federation Cup on Friday, knocked out non-league team,  Akure City and will face ABS FC of Ilorin in the round of 32.

    “We have a quality squad that isn’t built around a player so while I’m down the team can still perform. I missed not playing in that match but I’m confident of the  Rangers team. Now I’m back and I’m very happy to be doing what I love to do the most,” he said.

  • Rangers to sign five new players

    Rangers to sign five new players

    • Amapakabo unperturbed by Heartland’s home draw

    Enugu Rangers’ head coach, Imama Amapakabo has disclosed that he  needs  five new players to fix the few loopholes in his team ahead of the start of the second stanza of the NPFL season.

    Amapakabo watched in awe as his boys failed to click against Heartland, which ended goalless in Enugu on Friday.

    He said he was never bothered that his boys couldn’t beat the Naze Millionaires in the local derby played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, noting that such derby games always prove to be difficult.

    The former Enyimba and Sharks’ coach disclosed that Rangers would be better prepared for the return leg of the tie in Owerri  at the Dan Anyiam Stadium.

    He told SportingLife that he won’t be making a holistic change to his team but that he has looked at problematic areas in his team and would only settle for five new additions to make Rangers stronger during the second stanza.

    Rangers have 32 points from 18 matches to be placed first on the log ahead of other competing clubs in the top flight.

  • Rangers get Togaba boost

    Rangers get Togaba boost

    Table toppers Rangers international  have received an added boost ahead of today’s tie against visiting Ikorodu United at the Nnamidi Azikiwe Stadium.  Togolese import Togaba Komlan who has been nursing injury initially tipped to keep him away from action, bounced back and took part in training Saturday with strong indications that he might be thrown into action against Ikorodu boys.

    Prior to his return to action the Togolese international had missed six matches.   Coach of the side Imama Amakapabo who was on hand to make final assessment before selection, said he

    believes in the ability of his players to deliver. “I am proud of my players and I know that they always rise to the occasion,” he enthused

    Rangers held tenaciously to their lead at the summit of the league despite losing 2-1 away to Sunshine Stars of Akure on Wednesday. The coal City boys will however need to claim the

    entire three points against Ikorodu United if they are to have a chance of maintaining their position atop the ladder.

  • Rangers top again after home draw with 3SC

    Rangers top again after home draw with 3SC

    Rangers are back on top of the Nigeria league despite dropping their first points at home this season on the back of a 1-1 draw with shooting Stars on yesterday.

    Rangers now have 28 points from 15 matches, a point ahead of second-placed Kano Pillars with Abia Warriors a close third.

    Chisom Egbuchulam put Rangers ahead from the penalty spot after 80 minutes after he was upended inside the box.

    However, Tope Orelope, who came close to signing for Rangers in the close season, drew Shooting Stars level in stoppage time also from the penalty spot after Matthew Etim handled the ball inside his own box.

    In other matches,  Plateau United were held to a goalless draw by Sunshine Stars and Lobi Stars pipped MFM FC 1-0 at home.

  • Crowd’s trouble stalemate Giwa, Rangers game

    Crowd’s trouble stalemate Giwa, Rangers game

    •Flying Antelopes leading 1-0

    Crowd violence reared its ugly head again in the NPFL after  yesterday’s week 12 encounter between Giwa FC and Rangers International of Enugu was called off by the match commissioner, Mike Oboh.

    SportingLife gathered authoritatively that the game was in the 74th minute at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos when a hooligan suspected to be a fan of the home team attacked the match officials.

    After observing that the security situation at the stadium was no longer safe for football, the match commissioner decided to call off the much talked about match.

    The Police in Jos were said to have arrested and detained the undisclosed fan who assaulted the match officials.

    Rangers were leading 1-0 courtesy of Godwin Aguda 26th minute strike before the game became stalemated.

  • MFM Aiyeyemi to miss Rangers

    MFM Aiyeyemi to miss Rangers

    MFM FC rounded off their preparation for the NPFL Week 10 tie against Enugu Rangers with the conviction that they can stop the Flying Antelopes at the Agege Township Stadium, Lagos today.

    Most of the first team players trained without pain with the exception of James Aiyeyemi who may not taste action today as he is yet to fully recover from the injury he sustained against Plateau United in Jos in their last away game, which ended 1-1.

    In his likely absence, Abayomi Folarin and Ospino Egbe are both tipped to hold forth until he gets back to full match fitness.

    The club media officer, Olawale Quadry told SportingLife that MFM players have concluded the arrangement ahead of today’s clash and that they are targeting a home win to send more warning signal to other premier league clubs that they are not in the elite division to make up the number.

    MFM are sixth on the log with 15 points from nine matches ahead of today’s tie.

  • Rangers beat Enyimba 2-1 to remain top

    Rangers beat Enyimba 2-1 to remain top

    Enyimba and Rangers played out a tantalising oriental derby at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu yesterday in a NPFL Week 9 tie but the Flying Antelopes sealed maximum points before their fans after coming back from a goal down to beat the People’s Elephant 2-1.

    Joseph Osadiaye got his second goal in two matches for Enyimba when he shocked the fans at the stadium with the game opener in the 14th minute but Rangers underlined their title credentials with the equaliser in the 21st minute through Godwin Aguda before Chisom Egbuchulam scored the second goal in the 37th minute to the admiration of the capacity crowd at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

    The victory ensured that Rangers stay top of the league table with 17 points from nine matches while Enyimba remain on six points from five games.

  • Rangers not scared of Enyimba, says Madu

    Rangers not scared of Enyimba, says Madu

    The reigning Nigeria Professional Football League champions are struggling in the 2016 season with two wins and two defeats.

    Enyimba are now eight points behind the Flying Antelopes ahead of the match at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium.

    “There will be no fear, as we’re not afraid of Enyimba. What we do is knowing what our potential is and that has been evident in our recent outings. We have forgotten about the setback of crashing 3-1 against Lobi Stars in Makurdi and looking to feast on Enyimba in front of our passionate supporters,” Madu told Goal.

    “We will try to play the kind of football we know and not to overshadow the first principle, which is playing the ball to feet and going on rapid counter-attacks.”

    The match-day nine encounter will take place at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium on Sunday.

  • ORIENTAL CLASH: Rangers promise players cash to beat Abia Warriors

    ORIENTAL CLASH: Rangers promise players cash to beat Abia Warriors

    Rangers International FC of Enugu General Manager, Paul Chibuzor, has promised an undisclosed financial package to the players and officials of the club if they secure a victory against Abia Warriors in a match day six Nigeria Professional Football League on Sunday at Umuahia.

    According to a release made available to SportingLife through the club’s Director Media and Public Relations, Foster Chime, the chairman said the players have been financially motivated as a way to encourage them to push for a positive victory in Umuahia, with the payment of their Wikki Tourists victory match bonus.

    He added that the management has introduced some packages aimed at improving the clubs image as well as creating conducive relationship with the players and officials.

    Amongst the new packages include, Monthly Best player award, prompt payment of match bonuses, constant seminars, talks/briefs by various stakeholders in the football business to update the players on the current trends in the industry.

    Others are constant health checks, dieting, financial and investment managing as well as spiritual and marital issues to ensure they are always in the right frame of mind to avoid distractions.

    Chibuzor also disclosed that efforts are on to secure a bus from the Enugu State government to convey Rangers fans to Umuahia, adding that the club’s Board Chairman, Festus Onu had earlier promised to provide a luxurious bus to convey supporters and Rangers fans to Umuahia on Sunday for the oriental match.