The Nation Newspaper

Tag: RANGERS

  • Rangers confirm Amakapabo head coach

    Rangers confirm Amakapabo head coach

    Enugu Rangers have confirmed Imama Amakapabo as head coach after he chalked up his sixth win in the Nigeria league at the weekend.

    Former Sharks and Enyimba assistant coach Amakapabo has been in temporary charge of ‘The Flying Antelopes’ after Kelechi Emeteole was ordered to “step aside” earlier this season.

    “His letter confirming him as technical adviser is ready. He is officially our technical adviser now and he has been informed,” said Rangers general manager Paul Chibuzor.

    The general manager also told AfricanFootball.com Rangers are now up to date as regards payment of match bonuses, while he believes the government will soon sort out the issues concerning the players’ salaries.

    Today, Rangers are away to struggling Bayelsa United in continuation of the Nigeria league.

    They are now eighth on the league table with 26 points from 17 matches.

  • Beat Akwa United, get double bonus

    Beat Akwa United, get double bonus

    • Rangers mgt tell players

    Enugu Rangers’ players have been told to go  for victory against Akwa United on Sunday and have their bonus doubled with an additional N300,000.

    The Flying Antelopes have won their last four premier league matches and with a road trip to Uyo on Sunday as guests of Akwa United, the General Manager of the club, Paul Chibuzor Ozor has challenged the players to go for another win and get rewarded handsomely.

    “The General Manager has told the players they would double bonus if they beat Akwa United in Uyo on Sunday and that they would be given additional N300,000 by him for the same purpose,” the Director of Media and Publicity of the club, Foster Chime told SportingLife.

    Rangers are seventh with 23 points from 15 games after they bagged 12 points from possible 12 in the last four matches.

  • Rangers shock Warri Wolves 1-0

    Rangers shock Warri Wolves 1-0

    Enugu Rangers shocked Warri Wolves 1-0 at the Warri City Stadium yesterday in a Glo Premier League Week 13 tie.

    Rasaq Adegbite’s 18th minute stunner was all the Flying Antelopes needed to record their first away win of the season and their first victory in Warri for a very long time.

    The Flying Antelopes have been dogged by bad results and this culminated in the suspension of former head coach, Kelechi Emeteole. In came Imama Amapakabor who has been struggling to steady the team.

    Rangers have 17 points from 13 games and can’t afford to rest on their oars with tough home matches against Sunshine Stars and Kano Pillars ahead in Enugu.

  • Kwara United thrash Rangers

    Kwara United thrash Rangers

    Rangers International’s unimpressive season continued on Sunday when they lost 3-1 to Kwara United in a week 11 Glo Premier League clash at the Ilorin Township Stadium on Sunday.

    Playing in front of their fans, the Afonja Warriors wasted little time from the start to go in front of Rangers after two minutes thanks to Dare Ojo’s rocket shot from 35 yards.

    The lead lasted only 13 minutes as Rasaq Adegbite brought the visitor on level terms. The Flying Antelopes would have had the lead five minutes from interval but for Onoriode Odah’s selfish play when with options to pass to better positioned duo of Emeka Eze and Eziyodawe, he chose to take his chance one-on-one with goalkeeper Ismail Shagari. They would then be punished five minutes later by Oladapo who shot the hosts ahead. Victory was made certain on 80 minutes by Amungwa Emmanuel to end the fixture at 3-1.

    In other results, Nasarawa United clung unto a 6th minute headed goal of Ibrahim Ibrahim to pip Akwa United 1-0 while Enyimba International held hosts Wikki Tourists to a nil all draw in Bauchi.

  • Rangers axe Agbim after Wikki spanking

    Rangers axe Agbim after Wikki spanking

    SuperEagles goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim has been left out by Enugu Rangers in this weekend’s league clash against regional rivals Heartland after he let in four goals in a 4-2 loss at Wikki Tourists.

    Nigeria U-23 shot stopper Emanuel Daniel will therefore man the post with Itodo Akor on the bench.

    Rangers sources said officials are unhappy with Agbim’s performance at Wikki, where he let in four goals in the first half.

    Agbim rejoined ‘The Flying Antelopes’ as a free player from relegated Gombe United.

    Meanwhile, former FC Inter Enugu and Heartland right full-back Onyekaozulu Okoro has joined Rangers.

    He had trials with Dolphins before the commencement of this season.

    He impressed during a week-long trial with Rangers and signed Thursday morning at Antelope Building.

    He brings to four the right full-backs at the club – Chigozie Egwu, Etim Mathew and Haliru Umar.

  • Rangers write to CAF on Raja

    Rangers write to CAF on Raja

    A top Enugu Rangers’ official has told SportingLife that the Flying Antelopes have officially written to CAF through the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as they begin the recall of their former striker, Igholador Christian Osaguona from Raja Casablanca of Morocco.

    Rangers have given Raja series of ultimatum to pay the transfer fees of the striker who joined the Moroccan side from Rangers in December last year but all correspondences to have the money paid have fell on the North African side’s deaf ears.

    To this development, Rangers Director of Media and Publicity, Foster Chime said that Rangers have officially notified CAF of their desire to have Osaguona recalled after Raja’s breach of contract and that they are awaiting the reply of the continent’s soccer ruling body.

    Chime told SportingLife that the response of CAF will determine whether they would take up the case to FIFA as they go in search of justice.

    Raja signed Osaguona in December and the player has been scoring goals for the Moroccan club but the club reneged on the mode of payment of the transfer fees of the Nigerian which they promised to have paid up before the end of March.

    Chime told SportingLife that no dime has been collected from the club till date on the player and that they have run out of patience.

    “We have written to CAF and we are awaiting their reply. If we are not satisfied with judgement we will take the matter to FIFA,” Chime said.

  • Emeteole urges Rangers to set realistic targets

    Emeteole urges Rangers to set realistic targets

    Coach of Enugu Rangers Kelechi  Emeteole has urged fans of the Flying Antelopes not to target qualification for continental competitions without commensurate level of funding and preparation from the club.

    Emeteole told footballlive.ng that any team that will qualify to represent Nigeria on the continent will be one with the right level of funding and support from the club management and thereafter provide adequate preparations for such championships.

    “Any club that has prepared its team well, gotten quality players, given them all the requirements to work on should qualify for continental competitions.”

    “You must show players a sense of belonging; step up discipline because to whom much is given much is also expected. You don’t expect too much from those you have not given anything,”he said.

     

  • Rangers clinch Enugu Fed Cup

    Rangers clinch Enugu Fed Cup

    Rangers extended their dominance of Enugu State football as they defeated national league side F.C Inter 3-2 in a grudge encounter inside an empty Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on Saturday.

    Inter made it to this cup final after their protest from a semi-final loss to Samba F.C was upheld by the Enugu FA.

    F.C Inter protested the use of uncleared players by their semi-final conquerors and so played in the final after the F.A sanctioned Samba according to the rules.

    Chairman of FC Inter Francis Yawe said after the encounter: “It was a good game and my players gave a very good account of themselves.

    “It could have gone into penalty shootout but for the additional time which the referee failed to add. Our target is to become the national champion of the Federation Cup since we could hold a top side like Rangers.

    “It can only get better for us and I wish to advise Rangers not to use the display of their players against my team to judge some of their players I hear they are going to lay off.”

    Coach Kelechi Emeteole said: “They gave a good game but what really matters in games of this nature is the final result and we are happy we won today.

    “Surely there is room for improvement and we shall do that before the league starts again.”

    Odah Onoriode was in his element as he created two and scored one for a man-of-the-match performance for the premiership side.

    His defence-splitting pass was blasted home by Razaq Adegbite on 31 minutes, but it took the national league side only eleven minutes to get the equaliser on 42 minutes as Junior Christopher latched onto a sublime cross from Haruna Adams for both teams to retire to the dressing room.

    On resumption, the premiership side got two goals in six minutes as a quick interchange of passes released Onoriode, whose intelligent cut-back was met with precision by Adegbite on 47 minutes for his second of the evening.

    Odah then found the back of the net on 51st minute following a quick counter attack.

    Substitute Israel Abia grabbed Inter’s second goal in the 53rd minute as the backline of Rangers went to sleep to make for a nervy end to this encounter that saw Emeka Isaac of Rangers getting the referee’s marching orders on 88 minutes.

    Both sides will represent Enugu State at the national Federation Cup.

  • Rangers want Ighodaro recalled from Raja Casablanca

    Rangers want Ighodaro recalled from Raja Casablanca

    SL10.ng understands  that Enugu Rangers have reported Raja Casablanca to the Confederation of African Football, CAF, after the Moroccan club failed to credit their domiciliary account with the transfer fee of Osaguona Ighodaro.

    The Flying Antelopes agreed to shred the agreement binding them with the attacker in the January transfer window on the proviso that Raja Casablanca will pay 150,000 euros immediately to a nominated account at First Bank Uwani, Enugu.

    But more than two months after the transfer was consummated, Raja Casablanca have failed to liquidate the outstanding liability despite several demand notices sent to the CAF Champions League campaigners by the Enugu Rangers hierarchy.

    Before Osaguona’s International Transfer Certificate was sent to the Moroccan Federation, Raja Casablanca had written a letter of undertaking to Enugu Rangers, guaranteeing that the transfer fee will be remitted in three installments.

    However, they defaulted in paying the first installment of  €75,000 , which was supposed to have been honored not later than January 30, 2015, with the second and third installment of €37,500 each falling due on March 30 and June 30 respectively.

    Enugu Rangers have asked the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and CAF to withdraw Osaguona Ighodaro’s license. The Nigeria international has notched three goals in the Champions League so far.

  • Coly blames ref for Rangers loss to Taraba

    Coly blames ref for Rangers loss to Taraba

    Enugu Rangers’s Senegalese defender Pierre Coly has pointed an accusing finger to the referee, following the Flying Antelopes 3 – 2 loss to Taraba FC in both teams opening fixture in the Nigeria Professional Football League.

    Coly scored in the first half to bring the scoreline to 1 – 1, only for the referee to award a controversial penalty few minutes after the interval.

    “The Nigerian referees are not doing well, especially during away matches. We were not supposed to lose that match.

    “The referee gave them a penalty which they did not deserve, but their third goal was legitimate.

    “I decided to remain in Rangers because of the supporters. Fans come to watch our games,so I am motivated to play well.

    “Everything here at Rangers is peaceful, nobody is disturbing me, ” Pierre Coly said to allnigeriasoccer.com.

    Asked about his targets for the season, Coly replied : “Our target is to qualify for the CAF Champions League by winning the League.

    “We also want to win the Federation Cup,we must win a trophy this season.”

    The experienced centre – half is spending his third season at Enugu Rangers.