The Nation Newspaper

Tag: RANGERS

  • Rangers pip Nanka Eleven 1-0

    Rangers pip Nanka Eleven 1-0

    • Curtain falls on Nanka Champions League

    Glo Premier League campaigners, Enugu Rangers International defeated Nanka Eleven 1-0 at the NEROS Sports Stadium, Nanka during the annual novelty match of Nanka Champions League with Super Eagles invitee, Emeka Eze scoring the only goal of the match through a penalty in the second half.

    In the other match of the Nanka Champions League decided at the NEROS Sports Stadium between Ota Branch and Onitsha Branch, five times champions, Onitsha branch defeated Lagos branch 1-0 in the semi-final to book a place for the grand finale while Ota branch edged out Gboko branch 1-0 also in the other semi final.

    In the final proper Ota branch took the lead in the first half through a spectacular strike from Sunday Ogbachara, beating Ekene Ezeike in goal for Onitsha branch, the game was action filled and highly entertaining. The first half ended with Ota branch maintaining the 1-0 lead.

    With over 15,000 fans in attendance the second half was more thrilling with supporters applauding every fantastic move by the two teams.

    Ikechukwu Udoye of Onitsha branch leveled the scores for his team after Ota branch’s shot-stopper Emeka Izundu failed to keep the ball for the second time.

    The game was heading to extra time before Sunday Ogbachara again stole the show by striking from outside the 18 yard box which the Onitsha goalkeeper could not find answers to. It was a back breaking goal that left the Onitsha team players’ heads down.

    Luckily, Ota branch won the Cup (2-1) for the first time after 10 years to the delight of their sponsor, Ebere Nwosu, who also doubles as Managing Director of Greenlife Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

    Intrestingly, the winning team went home with N1.5m while Onitsha team got compensated with N900,000.

    Earlier, Gboko branch won the N600,000 prize money for the third placed team after beating 2012 runners up, Lagos branch 2-1.

    The sponsor of the competition, Poly Emenike MON, CEO/MD NEROS Pharmaceuticals Limited, thanked all the teams for their sportsmanship behaviour and as well thanked the organisers (NAFA-Nanka Football Association), led by John Ezeoke alongside the secretary, Ik Ezenwankwo for all their support.

  • Rangers warn Glo league clubs: Stop poaching our players

    Rangers warn Glo league clubs: Stop poaching our players

    • To begin contract negotiations next week

    Enugu Rangers have warned premier league clubs they are not authorised to have any discussion with any of their players without their express permission.

    The Flying Antelopes’ Director of Media and Publicity, Foster Chime, told SportingLife that many of the rivals clubs have been poaching their players without getting the all clearance from the management of the club.

    He termed this as high level of disregard for the Enugu side and has stated that the club would go to any length to take the necessary steps to punish erring clubs if they do not turn a new leaf.

    The club’s mouthpiece argued that for any club that desires to have any of their players, the right steps and procedures must be followed and not the present norms where the club must have gone ahead to poison the minds of the players without due recourse to the club they played for last season.

    “We are not happy at the way some clubs are poaching on our players ahead of the new season. We are warning clubs in the premier league to desist from this action if they do not want to incur our wrath.

    “CAF and FIFA have laid down rules and regulations on how players’ movement should be done and we frown at the flagrant abuse of some procedures by Nigerian clubs who are having discussions with our players behind our back. A word is enough for the wise.

    “We are going to have contract discussions with our players next week and we do not expect any problem with that but this issue of poaching on our players by top clubs in the land must stop,” Chime said.

    Chime said Rangers have already earmarked next week for contract discussions and negotiations with their players ahead of the Globacom Premier League which starts on February 23rd.

  • Rangers begin camping in Oba next week

    Rangers begin camping in Oba next week

    • Line up matches against Sharks, Lobi, others

    Enugu Rangers will leave for Rojenny Stadium, Oba, near Onitsha in Anambra State next week for a closed camping exercise ahead of the Globacom Premier League for 2013/2014 season.

    The Flying Antelopes came fifth at the end of the last soccer season with 58 points from 38 matches and with the addition tactician, John Sam Obuh, the Enugu side are aiming to better last season’s feat.

    The Director of Media and Publicity of the Flying Antelopes, Foster Chime informed SportingLife that the club has arranged top friendly matches against Sharks, Lobi Stars, Warri Wolves and Abia Warriors in their bid to get toughened before the Glo Premier League commences next month.

    “We are proceeding to Oba next week to round off our preparation for the coming season. We are not satisfied with our league position for last season and have moved to do something solid about that by hiring a top coach. We have also lined up quality matches to keep us in the mood for the start of the season.

    “Lobi Stars, Sharks, Abia Warriors are games we have finalised while we are still discussing with Warri

    Wolves over another friendly tie. We are raring to go and I don’t see anything stopping us now,” Chime told SportingLife.

    Meanwhile, Enugu Rangers’ Technical Adviser, John Sam Obuh has threatened that the players of the Flying Antelopes who reported late for their pre season camping exercise risk outright sack or heavy sanctions ahead of the Globacom Premier League season.

    The Enugu based club told their players to report for the pre season activities last weekend ahead of their closed camping exercises but about four players of the team are yet to hit the Coal City State in anticipation of that forthcoming assignments.

     

  • Rangers beat spirited Nanka X1 1-0

    Rangers beat spirited Nanka X1 1-0

    Enugu Rangers managed a lone goal victory over a gallant Nanka X1 in a friendly match played at the Neros Sports Stadium, Nanka, Anambra State on Tuesday.

    The Flying Antelopes, who came to the friendly tie with most of their second string players , struggled to live up to expectation, however, a penalty kick saved Rangers’ blushes in the second half when Emeka Eze scored from the spot.

    Speaking after the match, the owner of Neros Pharmaceutical Company and the sponsor of the friendly tie, Polly Emenike(Odenigbo Nanka), said he got the inspiration to align himself with football after his journey to India where he was surprised at the popularity of Nigerian footballers whom most Indians know by name. He said it was a sharp contrast to the country’s politicians who had declining popularity when compared with that of Nigerian footballers and other sportsmen.

    Emenike’s sponsorship of the popular Nanka Champions League dates back to 1978. His interest in football competitions has also spread to the Anambra State Football Challenge Cup, which he has been bankrolling.

    Nanka, who spoke through one of his media aides, Akonam Obiefula, said he won’t relent in his sponsorship of football competitions in Anambra State and Nigeria as a whole because it is his joy to be associated with that particular sport that puts smiles on the faces of Nigerians.

    Meanwhile, The 2013 Nanka Champions League ended yesterday at the Nanka Sports Stadium.

  • Rangers demand prize money from organisers

    Rangers demand prize money from organisers

    • Dolphins want logistics settled for placing second

    Enugu Rangers have shown their disgust as the organisers of the just concluded Sapele Unity Cup for not providing them with the prize money of N500,000 they were promised for emerging winners of the competition.

    Logistics initially delayed the commencement of the final match after Rangers and Dolphins complained to the organisers that they must attend to their needs including the promised N500,000 for the winners and N300,000 for the second placed.

    They were prevailed upon to play but were only given medals and a trophy added to the largesse of the Flying Antelopes but without any dime during the medal’s presentation.

    The Flying Antelopes eventually triumphed 4-2 on penalties after both teams settled for 1-1 draw at full time.

    Rasaq Adegbite put Rangers in the driver’s seat before Dolphins’ Ifeanyi Egwin put both clubs on level terms.

    Speaking with SportingLife on telephone, the Director, Media and Publicity, Foster Chime said Rangers have made their grievances known to the organisers and that they would not relent until the promised money is given to them.

    “We were only given a trophy and medals but the organisers have been silent on the N500,000 prize money they promised to give us as soon as the competition is over.

    “We were told that the organisers would get back to us very soon but I don’t think this is fair to us after we were tricked to Sapele only not to be paid our entitlements,” Chime complained to SportingLife.

  • Rangers on top at Sapele Unity Cup

    Rangers on top at Sapele Unity Cup

    • Wolves secure win too

    Rangers of Enugu and Warri Wolves have stepped up their pre-season build ups with wins at the ongoing Sapele Unity Cup holding in Sapele, Delta State.

    Rangers walked over JS Atete on Wednesday evening after the Warri-based side got to the venue of the match late. The Flying Antelopes followed that up with a 3-0 win over Coliphen Sports Academy yesterday at the Sapele Stadium.

    Chinedu Ajaegbu – from the penalty spot – Chisom Egbuchulam and Rasaq Adegbite were all on the score sheet for the Flying Antelopes as they raced to the top of the Sapele Unity Cup after maximum points from two games played thus far.

    Foster Chime, Rangers’ Director of Media and Publicity told SportingLife that the competition would afford the Coal City side the opportunity to test most of their new players.

    Warri Wolves are also unbeaten in the Unity Cup after another 1-0 win over JS Atete yesterday. The Seasiders played a goalless draw with Dolphins on Wednesday in one of the opening games of the competition.

  • Obuh, Rangers disagree over contract

    Obuh, Rangers disagree over contract

    • Ex-Flying Eagles coach threatens to join Akwa 

    Coach John Obuh and Enugu Rangers have disagreed over the duration of the contract the ex-Flying Eagles handler has been given.

    A close associate of Obuh stated that the coach is already worried that he has not seen the contract papers for the job that he was given after the resignation of Okey Emordi at the end of the season.

    “Let me tell you that the coach is highly disturbed due to the fact that the contract papers for his deal are still to get to him,” a source disclosed.

    “He is even more worried based on reports in some medium that he has put pen to paper for a one year deal which is not true. In fact, coach told me that he will not sign any contract that is less than two years.”

    Our source further stated, “Coach has been approached by some officials of Akwa United, but he has his heart for Rangers.

    “However, if the terms of the contract do not favour him, he will have to weigh the option of joining Akwa United who have tabled a far better offer.”

    Some members of Rangers’ management team had on Monday presented Obuh as their new technical adviser with the mandate to end the club’s three decades without any trophy with general manager Paul Chibuzor promising to give the former Flying Eagles coach all the support he needs to deliver.

  • Clubs scramble for Rangers ace Chibuikem

    Clubs scramble for Rangers ace Chibuikem

    Champions Pillars, Bayelsa United and Sunshine Stars are among the clubs after Rangers striker Meshack Chibuikem ahead of the new season.

    Chibuikem, who joined Rangers mid-season on loan from Egyptian club Smouha Alexandria, scored four goals including the winner against El Kanemi on the final day of the action this past season.

    He came off the bench to cash in on a defensive blunder to score the match winner, which he dedicated to his late mother, who he had buried a day earlier.

    “I will take my time before I take a decision on my future. It’s possible I could stay at Rangers if they come up with a good offer,” the 23-year-old Chibuikem told MTNFootball.com.

  • I suffered from interferences in Rangers – Emordi

    I suffered from interferences in Rangers – Emordi

    Former Enugu Rangers coach, Okey Emordi, has said he threw in the towel because of interferences in his job by top officials.

    “I must say that the condition of service for me has been greatly breached by the club management,” he told MTNFootball.com

    “How do you explain a situation where players are imposed on me by the general manager (Paul Chibuzor) or how do you explain the registration of ineligible players which led to our disqualification from the continent?

    “All these and more as well as my inability to transform the team to a trophy-winning side due to the above mentioned interferences, pushed me to take this decision.

    “I wish the club well and hope that whoever takes charge of the team after me will be given the chance to do his job without external interferences in technical matters. The administrators should concern themselves with proper administration of the club.”

    Former Enyimba coach Emordi, who was named CAF Coach of the Year in 2004, further informed MTNFootball.com that he quit his post soon after Rangers pipped visiting El Kanemi Warriors on the final day of the season to place fifth on the table.

     

  • Rangers deny Anyansi claim on Emordi

    Rangers deny Anyansi claim on Emordi

    General Manager Enugu Rangers Football Club, Paul Chibuzor has denied granting interview that Enyimba chairman Feliz Anyansi warned him about Chief Coach Okey Emordi, that he never made such a statement.

    He said Rangers hold Anyansi in high esteem as their clubs have worked together for the interest of Nigerian Football.

    He said that Emordi knew his contract with Ragners ended with the last match of the season same as other coaching crew in the team.

    Rangers have kept faith with all contractual obligation with players and technical crew and continue to do that according to Director Media and Publicity, Foster Chime.