The Nation Newspaper

Tag: RANGERS

  • I’m going through hell at Rangers – Obuh

    I’m going through hell at Rangers – Obuh

    Embattled Rangers coach John Obuh has admitted he has endured a rather difficult time at the club.

    But at the same time, he insisted the problems have been more to do with players’ morale than what happens on the pitch.

    ‘The Flying Antelopes’ are a lowly 15th on the table with 24 points after the first round of the Nigeria Premier League.

    However, former Nigeria Under 20 coach Obuh has argued he inherited a rash of problems when he joined the team which he never knew existed and the players’ low spirit had been most worrisome.

    “Honestly speaking, it has been very difficult and tough. Unfortunately, most of the events that led to this happened before I joined the team and I inherited all of them,” argued Obuh, who has been handed a four-match ultimatum for the start of the next round of the campaign.

    “However, I am not afraid of these problems as I know that they won’t kill me, but rather make me stronger on the job.

    “These problems are related to the human mind with regards to the players, who are the chief actors, over the non-fulfillment of their financial entitlements by the management.”

  • Rangers in tatters

    The sloppy performance of Rangers International of Enugu may continue unabated if nothing is done to address the welfare of players, which SportingLife gathered is at it’s lowest ebb.

    The Flying Antelopes as Rangers are popularly known by their ardent faithful and fans are currently stuggling in the season’s Glo Premier League where they occupy  15th position on the log with a mind bugging 17 points after 14 matches.

    According to a club source,the club’s woes may take its turn for the worse if the management fails to clear the backlog of wages owed the players, especially last season’s sign on fees.

    As part of the reforms introduced by the League Management Company(LMC)teams were mandated to pay an enhanced monthly salary structure to their players to replace the old order of sign on fees which seldom gets to the players.

    But that was to take effect at the beginning of the current season,meaning that clubs were still obliged to pay the agreed sign on fees to their players for last season.

    While some either cleared theirs or paid part to the players, Rangers management it was understood failed to pay a dime to their players,a situation that has led to most of the senior players boycotting training sessions.

    “Most senior players have vowed not to attend training sessions until their sign on fees are paid by the management of the club. So,if key players don’t train,how do you expect the team to do well during matches,”our source asked.

    Few days ago,concerned fans of the club made a passionate appeal to the sole financier of the team,the Enugu State government to release funds to the management to enable them meet their financial obligations to the demoralised players.

    The situation,SportingLife learnt has become so frustrating to coach John Obuh because in most training sessions,the coach comes to the stadium to meet few players on the pitch.

    “At the moment,only the new players attend training sessions and most times they are not more than eight players,”the source said.

  • Rangers blame match officials

    Rangers blame match officials

    Enugu Rangers have stated that they lost their Week 15 Glo Premier League to the hosts, Sharks because of bias officiating by the centre referee, Ajao Ibrahim and his assistants who according to them, frustrated Rangers efforts from start to finish.

    The Director of Media and Publicity of the Flying Antelopes, Foster Chime told SportingLife that the match officials played out their script well from the start to the finish and that they practically stopped them from playing to the advantage of the home team.

    Chime enjoined the League Management Company (LMC) to flush out such bias match officials in the league so that they don’t bring the game to disrepute.

    “Rangers lost the match to Ajao Ibrahim and his assistants with his bias and mundane officiating thereby ruining the match and making it very uninteresting. LMC should ban such people from handling league matches to avoid bringing the game to disrepute,” Chime said.

    But in a swift reaction, the media officer of Sharks, Peter Abaje said that it was wrong for Rangers to have questioned the officiating of the Wednesday’s league tie.

    Abaje said Rangers should produce the match tape of the league tie and present it to Nigerians for them to judge if the goal was offside or a good call by the referee.

  • Bayelsa United beat Rangers 4-3

    Bayelsa United  on Wednesday defeated Rangers Football Club of Enugu, flying antelopes by 4-3 in week eleven glo premier league.

    Before the match at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium a one minute silence was observed in honour of Deacon Sam David popularly called Samco stars.

    Bayelsa United having crashed out of the Confederation Cup conceded the first goal when CHAN hero Ejike Uzeonyi of Rangers in the 6th minute put his name in the scorers sheet.  The host team Bayelsa equalized courtesy of Sobomabo West in the 8th minute.

    Former Flying Eagles player Oluwafemi Oladapo latched home a 20yards bullet to put Bayelsa ahead.  Bayelsa went ahead 3-1 through Peter Ebimobowei who struck to increase the tally in the 38th minutes.

    The visitors under the tutelage of silver winning Golden Eaglets John Obuh urged his wads to attack following which  Rangers reduced  the deficit to 3-2 before the end of the first half.

     Bayelsa united second half substitute Ebitimi Agogu made it four for Bayelsa united while Abubakar Kumar of Rangers pulled one back to make it  4-3 towards the end of the game.

    Coach of Bayelsa United after the game said that he hopes his team will continue with this result in Benin and promised to beat Enyimba of Aba this weekend when they clash in a rescheduled game.

    “I am happy with the performance of my boys even though Rangers gave us a good run for our money,I am also happy with the fans who turned out in large numbers to support us. We hope not to disappointing them”

     

  • Rangers pip Abia Warriors in Oriental Derby

    Rangers pip Abia Warriors in Oriental Derby

    Enugu Rangers have boosted their chances of qualifying for the continent at the end of the league season after an important 2-1 win over Abia Warriors in a Glo Premier League Week 8 tie played yesterday.

    Meshack Chukwubuikem got the Flying Antelopes’ curtain raiser in the 33rd minute while Odah Marshal doubled the Enugu side’s lead in the 63rd minute before Abia Warriors struggled to cancel one of the goals through Bishop Onyeudo who marked his return to the team with a goal.

    Onyeudo missed the tie against Sunshine Stars last weekend due to a card suspension.

    Rangers have 11 points from eight matches same as their defeated opponents, Abia Warriors but the Umuahia side have played a game less.

    Meanwhile, there was a reported case of crowd violence which was checkmated by the security officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium after the fans of the home team wanted to force their frustration on the centre referee, Joseph Okeke from the FCT.

    The fans alleged that the referee made questionable calls after he turned down many penalty appeals from the home team.

    Security officials came to the rescue of the referee whom they formed a shield around until the angry fans dispersed.

  • Rangers to players Beat Dolphins, get double bonus

    Rangers to players Beat Dolphins, get double bonus

    Players and technical crew of Rangers International of Enugu have been promised double match bonus if they beat Dolphins FC in a week 6 Glo Premier League encounter in Port-Harcourt today.

    The club’s media officer, Foster Chime, who disclosed this to SportingLife, said the club’s General Manager Paul Chibuzor paid players and officials their match bonus win against Nembe City.

    Chime said the management took the decision as a way to motivate them to victory against Dolphins.

    Chibuzor is known for encouraging players. He lavished them with N500, 000 following their 2-1 win against Kano Pillars in the week 3 clash in Enugu.

    The Flying Antelopes have not been impressive in the ongoing campaign this season

    “The aim of the management is to ensure that the team is victorious in every match. That is why we are doing everything to encourage them. I believe the win against Nembe City will boost their morale to pursue victory against Dolphins,” Chime told SportingLife.

    “The management took it as a matter of urgency to pay them their match winning bonus immediately after the game against Nembe City. They stand the chance to get double pay if they beat Dolphins on Saturday.”

    Meanwhile, the team’s captain, Cyril Oriaku has vowed that he and his colleagues will go for a point against Dolphins as a way to thank the management for their kind gesture to the team.

    “We are always aiming for the best for the team and we will try our best to see that we go back to Enugu with a good result. Dolphins FC are not a small team but we will try our best,” he said.

  • Uzoenyi set to rejoin Rangers

    Uzoenyi set to rejoin Rangers

    Ejike Uzoenyi is set to rejoin Nigeria Professional Football League outfit Enugu Rangers in preparation for the 2014 league season.

    The African Nations Championship (CHAN) most valuable player failed to secure a contract in South Africa after being linked with Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Supersport United following his impressive displays in the competition.

    Uzoenyi has now made a resolve to leave concession with his manager as he helps the Flying Antelopes prepare for the Glo Premier League season expected to begin on February 23.

    “I’m back in Nigeria now after holding talks with a club in South Africa. Nothing has been agreed upon yet but my manager will continue to discuss with them,” Uzoenyi told SuperSport.com.

    Reports had it that the former Rennes player held talks with Supersport United earlier this week with Matsatsantsa discontinuing talks about a possible move.

  • Rangers intensify preparations for new season

    Rangers intensify preparations for new season

    Rangers International FC of Enugu on Wednesday said it had intensified preparations for 2013/2014 Glo Premier League which will kick off on Feb. 21.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rangers finished fifth on the league log with 58 points from 38 matches last season.

    The club’s spokesperson, Forster Chime, told NAN in Enugu that the club would leave no stone unturned to emerge champions in the coming season.

    “We are battle-ready for the season. We have played some friendly matches with Abia Warriors, Akwa Utd of Uyo, and other top teams. We beat Abia Warriors 1-0 in Enugu but lost 0-2 in the return leg in Umuahia. We equally defeated Akwa Utd by 2-0 in Enugu but also lost 0-1 in their home,” he said.

    According to Chime, the club already has 37 players in camp jostling for shirts, while 15 of them are new players with their contract signing still in progress.

    He said the club planned to engage players from Bendel Insurance, Lobi Stars of Makurdi, Sharks and Dolphins of Port Harcourt and possibly from Warri Wolves before the league commences.

    “For now we have 37 players in camp with 15 of them still to sign with the club, their contract negotiation is still in progress. Thank God for the abolition of the sign-on fee by the League Management Company (LMC) because it had marred relationships between clubs and their players.

    “Many clubs owed their players sign-on fees with their players nearly boycotting some league matches last season,” Chime said.

    On Rangers players’ performance at the just-concluded African Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa, he said the club would never cease producing players for the national team.

    “We have four players at the tournament, Ejike Uzoenyi, Ugonna Uzochukwu, Chigozie Agbim, and Christian Obiozor, who did not only participate but were useful throughout the tournament.

    “Uzoenyi won the best player at the tournament, while Obiozor won the bronze for the country with his only debut goal of the tournament. As it stands, the four players are being circled by foreign clubs, while the Eagles team B Captain, Agbim’s contract has been up with us,” he said.

    Chime added that Rangers would not to stop its players from honouring national team call up at any time since national assignment was paramount.

  • 2013/2014 season: Rangers in close camping

    2013/2014 season: Rangers in close camping

    Rangers International FC of Enugu have moved into close camping in preparation for the 2013/2014 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    Paul Ozor, the club’s General Manager (GM), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the camp which opened at the Rojenny Stadium, Oba, Anambra, would last for three weeks.

    According to Ozor, 33 players and the team officials opened the camp on January 30 while the team will return to Enugu on February 21 for their first season encounter against Nembe City FC.

    “I am very happy that the boys have assured me that they are very willing to play this season and that they are going to put in their best.

    “We have a good number of our old players but we infused some young talented players who were part of the team that represented Nigeria at the U-17 World Cup.

    “We hope that as the season starts, Rangers will do a turnaround and make sure the trophy is ours this time.’’

    The Rangers GM noted that the appointment of John Obuh, the former Flying Eagles coach would also boost the club’s chances of winning the 2013/2014 league season.

    He, therefore, urged the League Management Company (LMC) to ensure equal and adequate live coverage of the matches as it would help to curb hooliganism and encourage healthy competition.

    “All we are asking is that all the matches be televised; don’t televise my match and next time you don’t go to televise the other person’s match.

    “I believe that if this is done, we will know the actual champions of the league.

    “It’s not winning at all cost or by all means; what we need is to know who will be the actual champion of the 2013/2014 league season.’’

    He commended the LMC for its laudable initiatives for the forthcoming season aimed at bringing sanity to the league but urged it to match its words with action.

    NAN recalls that Rangers had earlier picked the new stadium in Nanka, Anambra, constructed by a philanthropist, Polycarp Emenike, for their camping but later had a change of plan.

    NAN reports that four Rangers players: Ejike Uzoenyi, Ugonna Uzochukwu, Christian Obiozor and goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim are currently on national assignment with the Super Eagles at the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).

     

  • Enugu team hold Rangers

    Enugu team hold Rangers

    Enugu Rangers got a little setback to their preparation for the 2013/2014 Globacom Premier League season when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Enugu selected side in a practice match played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

    The Flying Antelopes led for most part of the encounter before they conceded a late penalty kick which their opponents converted in the dying minutes of the encounter.

    Rangers finished fifth last season with 58 points from 38 matches and with the acquisition of former Flying Eagles’ boss, John Obuh they are expecting an instant turn around including an end to their 30 years wait for a title.