The Nation Newspaper

Tag: RANGERS

  • El Kanemi want LMC to monitor key fixtures Rangers: El Kanemi will fall

    From Tunde Liadi,Owerri

    El Kanemi Warriors boss, Alhaji Mala Zannah and Technical Adviser, Zachary Baraje have called on the League Management Company(LMC) to beckon on the match officials detailed for their blockbuster Matchday 38 Glo Premier League clash against Enugu Rangers today to give them a level playing ground.

    The Maiduguri side will win the league if they beat the Flying Antelopes and Lobi Stars and Gombe United stun Kano Pillars and Bayelsa United in Katsina Ala and Gombe respectively.

    Speaking in separate chats with SportingLife on telephone both top officials stated that a good officiating would be augur well for the league than previous seasons.

    “We do not only crave for good officiating, we also pray the LMC to properly monitor the game in case of any underhand tactics. The LMC must also keep a close tab on all the high profile matches and should enforce stiffer sanctions against clubs that err,” Alhaji Zannah told SportingLife.

    Meanwhile, Enugu Rangers’ spokesman, Foster Chime has stated that El Kanemi would be beaten in spite of their threat because the Flying Antelopes’ players have been well motivated ahead of the game.

    El Kanemi are third on the log with 60 points while Rangers are fifth with 55 points from 37 matches.

  • Okorocha to watch Heartland against Rangers

    Okorocha to watch Heartland against Rangers

    • Deputy Gov screens players, officials 

    Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha will be at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri tomorrow, to cheer up Heartland FC against visiting Rangers International FC of Enugu in the Week 37 match of the GLO/LMC Nigeria Premier League.

    It will be the last home game of the season for the Owerri side seeking a win in tomorrow’s game to completely stave off any relegation haunt.

    The Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere who was at the club’s office in Owerri for a meeting with the members of the club on Tuesday, said Okorocha will come for the match to support Heartland FC and that his presence will bring a big surprise to the team.

    Madumere, who thanked the players and officials for making him proud by winning each time he came to watch their game, urged the players not to disappoint the governor whose visit would be to boost their morale against the ‘Flying Antelopes’ from Enugu State.

    He gave indication that the governor’s visit might bring about an announcement on government release of fund for the settlement of players sign-on fees and transfer fees when he conducted a physical verification exercise on both players and officials and debts owed to all staff for the last two seasons.

    Heartland FC’ sluggard run this season has been blamed mostly on low morale and constant strike action by players over welfare demands.

    The ‘Naze Millionaires’ are occupying 11th position on the league table with 49 points from 36 games and with just two more games left to go in the season analysts calculate that they must win one of their two remaining matches to land on a safe ground by end of the season.

     

  • Enugu Rangers target continental ticket

    Enugu Rangers target continental ticket

    Enugu Rangers FC have set a continental ticket target for next season, even as the “Flying Antelopes” aim for a top finish at the end of the current campaign.

    The “Coal City” club who defeated Sharks FC 2-0 on Saturday have been gathering points and are already contending for a spot in the continent next season.

    Speaking with Futaa.com from Enugu, the club’s media officer, Foster Chime, reiterated the club’s resolve to secure a continental ticket at the end of the season.

    “”We are looking at the continent already. The team is focused on that and there’s no looking back.

    “We were there this season and want to go back there and we’re hoping that the next two games will determine where we will be” Chime stated.

    Foster also added that preparations are already in top gear as regards their operations for next season.

    After the 2-0 victory in Port Harcourt on Saturday in their week 36 NPFL league fixture, Rangers now sit fifth on the log with 55 points, five behind league leaders Kano Pillars.

  • Rangers’ Umar suffers injury setback

    Rangers’ Umar suffers injury setback

    Enugu Rangers defender Haliru Umar will not see action again this season after he suffered a leg injury in training.

    Umar has been sidelined for several weeks after he was injured in a league match at home against Nembe City.

    “My season is over after the injury in training,” said a very disappointed Umar.

    “I will now return to my base in Sokoto for a traditional cure to the problem. I hope to return stronger and better in the new season.”

    The experienced Umar, who has been moved to defence from midfield, scored two goals in the League and one in the Federation Cup this campaign

  • Motivated Rangers hold Sunshine in Akure

    Motivated Rangers hold Sunshine in Akure

    Enugu Rangers top official has asserted that the Flying Antelopes players were left unhappy after the could only get a draw as against a road victory targeted in the Glo Premier League Matchday 35 tie played against Sunshine Stars at the Akure Township Stadium.

    Rangers’ players were promised N500,000 and N300,000 respectively if they get either a win or draw at away in the remainder of the league season by the club chairman, Festus Onu.

    This propelled the Coal City side against Sunshine and they aptly took the lead in the 44th minute through in-form Chinedu Udeagha but Sunshine fought back and equalised through Philip Auta who was also responsible for the goal that sank the Akure Gunners’ last home opponents, El Kanemi Warriors.

    Speaking with SportingLife from Akure, the director, media and publicity, Foster Chime said the players put up one of their best displays of the season to hang on to the morale boosting draw as they seek a late onslaught on a place on the continent.

    “We are happy with this draw although a win would have been ideal because we strove to get a win to booster our continental ticket target. We shall continue to do our best to ensure we get it.

    “The promise made by Rangers’ Board Chairman, Festus Onu and other well meaning personalities of the club is working wonders and we shall go back home to face Sharks full of optimism,” Chime said.

    Rangers retained fifth position on the log with 52 points from 35 games while Sunshine are on 49 points from same number of matches.

  • Rangers Board Chairman to players: Grab a continental ticket get a trip to China, Italy

    Rangers Board Chairman to players: Grab a continental ticket get a trip to China, Italy

    •Dangles 500k for away win and many more

     

    Enugu Rangers’ Board Chairman, Festus Onu has promised to personally fund the Flying Antelopes’ players pre season trips to China and Italy respectively if they could secure a continental ticket this season.

    Rangers are currently fifth on the log with 51 points from 34 matches but they could get an outside chance of a place on the continent if they win all their remaining home and away matches.

    To ensure that the late push for a continental ticket becomes a reality, Onu and other well meaning allies of the Flying Antelopes have aligned together to ensure that the players and coaches are well motivated between now and the end of the season.

    The first to react was the club’s Board Chairman, Onu who has told them to get a ticket to Africa and earn themselves trips to China and Italy for pre season games.

    Onu revealed that about three clubs have already agreed to engage Rangers in friendly matches as soon as they get to both nations for the pre season.

    Besides, the long term incentives, Onu has also promised to dangle N500,000 for every away win achieved by the club in the remainder of the league season where Rangers are slated to play Sunshine Stars and Heartland away from Enugu.

    The Port-Harcourt based astute businessman also offered N300,000 for every away drawn game and N250,000 for home wins till the end of the season.

    Adding to that was the Coal City side’s General Manager, Paul Chibuzor Ozor who has also promised the players and coaches an unspecified sum of money if they could get a result at Akure against Sunshine Stars on Wednesday.

    Ozor also confirmed that the players and coaches had been paid their outstanding two match bonuses to keep them in the right stead and mood ahead of the tie on Wednesday at Akure.

    Speaking with SportingLife on why the club promised the players and the technical officials so much despite giving only slightly above average throughout the season, the club’s director of media and publicity, Foster Chime said:” We are doing all within our reach to ensure that we get a continental ticket with nothing yet decided on the table from the top to the relegation zone. We have noticed that proper motivation is the antidote to delivering positive results, hence our decision to do so.

    “The players are raring to go and they have assured us that we should expect more than 100 per cent from them since they do not want to miss out on all the largesse promised them.”

    The Flying Antelopes have four matches more including ties at Sunshine Stars and Heartland. They will also host Sharks and El Kanemi at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.

     

  • Rangers ready for 3SC’s tie

    Rangers ready for 3SC’s tie

    Coal City Flying Antelopes, Rangers International Football Club of Enugu intensified training on Thursday preparatory for their epic battle against arch-rivals 3SC of Ibadan on Sunday.

    The director, media and publicity, Rangers, Foster Chime said the team is battle ready after their 3- 1 defeat of Akwa United in a mid-week game in Enugu.

    He said the victory is the tonic needed to face 3SC at their backyard with sole aim of running away with the 3 points at stake.

    Addressing players and technical crew in Enugu, the General Manager of the team, Ozor Paul Chibuzor charged them to redouble their effort in the coming match against 3SC.

    He said they have to repay the huge investment on the team from the state government by beating the Oluyole Warriors in Ibadan for them to stage a dramatic return to the continent.

    Chubuzor said the payment of the two-match bonuses to them is to motivate the players and officials in their home match against Akwa United which they won as well as their weekend match against 3SC on Sunday in Ibadan.

    The GM made an undisclosed financial pledge for a victory or a draw for the crucial match with 3SC, stating that though they expect a tough game from 3SC with week 33 game at the Lekan Salami Stadium,Adamasingba Stadium, Ibadan, Rangers are poised more than ever before to redeem their Image battered by 3SC action that is condemnable.

    Rangers he noted have the capacity and quality of players and bench with good pedigree to get the job successfully done in Ibadan, as Rangers had in their first meeting in Enugu drubbed 3SC 3- 1, and a double won’t be bad.

    Club Chairman, Festus Onu has also promised the sum of N300,000 to the players if they beat 3SC on Sunday and, N250,000 for a draw.

    Rangers FC is currently placed 5th on the league table with 48points from 32 matches, while 3SC of Ibadan is last on the table with 39points from same number of matches and threatened by relegation.

  • Rangers happy to beat Akwa Utd

    Rangers happy to beat Akwa Utd

    • Thrash the Uyo side 3-1 at Enugu

    Enugu Rangers gained a measure of revenge over Akwa United at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium yesterday after they inflicted a 3-1 win over the Uyo side.

    Two first-half goals from Ugonna Uzochukwu in the 23rd and 32nd minutes put the Flying Antelopes on the path of victory before Christian Obiozor scored the third in the 61st minute. Mfon Udoh continued his impressive goals scoring form when he netted what turned out to be his club’s consolation goal.

    Rangers are now on 48 points from 32 games. They moved to 5th on the spot in the process while Akwa United remained on 42 points.

    Rangers’ director of media and publicity, Foster Chime told SportingLife that the Flying Antelopes’ defeat to Akwa United showed the club did not deserve to lose in the round of 16 Federation Cup tie to the Uyo side but that they only experienced an off day on the day of the tie.

    He said Rangers would continue to maintain the same consistency till the end of the season and strive to make a late charge towards a continental slot.

    “We are happy with this victory. The players knew what was at stake and they came all out to play for the club and for their career. We can still qualify for the continent. We will continue with this form till the end of the season and see what we are going to get,” Chime said.

  • ‘We didn’t click against Rangers’

    ‘We didn’t click against Rangers’

    Akwa United spokesperson, Uwem Ekoh has said his team didn’t do well in the 3-1 defeat to Rangers International of Enugu on match day 32 og the Globacom Premier League.

    Ekoh said: “It was not bad a game, we had a good game plan for Rangers but our boys didn’t just play well as they missed good goal scoring chances.

    “If the half chances were converted, I’m sure we could have left Enugu with at least a point but, at the end, we take solace from our errors in front of the Flying Antelopes goal.

    “I must also commend the match officials as officiating was 50/50, and Enugu fans did spice up the game as they were very friendly.

    “We must now go and prepare for Sunday’s match day 33 game against Nasarawa United in Uyo as we intend to return to winning ways after the unfortunate barren draw against Heartland on match day 31.”

    Ugonna Uzochukwu’s brace in the first half ensured that the coach Okey Emordi side were home and dry.

    With less than 10minutes to the restart of the second half, the Flying Antelopes put the game beyond the reach of the Uyo team as Mfon Udoh scored consolatory goal in the 65th.

  • Rangers call referee Peters kill-joy

    Rangers call referee Peters kill-joy

    • Bayelsa United: They lied

    Enugu Rangers have described referee Shinyi Peters from the FCT as a kill-joy after they alleged he mastermind their 0-1 loss to Bayelsa United at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa yesterday in a Glo Premier League match.
    The Flying Antelopes’ director of media and publicity, Foster Chime in a text message informed SportingLife the referee allegedly awarded two penalties in the same match.
    He said the first was justified because Rangers’ player handled the ball in the vital area. But he argued that the second penalty was at the whim of referee Peters.
    He also alleged that with 15 minutes to play all the balls disappeared with only one ball in sight for the duration of the game.
    Chime said the anomaly was reported to the match commissioner but he never acted on it.
    He also alleged that the two minutes added on time was never observed as the centre referee blew the final whistle even before the regulation time.
    Meanwhile, Bayelsa United’s striker, Peter Ebimobowei has however described Rangers allegation as pure lies and the rant of a defeated opponent. He said Bayelsa United beat Rangers and that they should concentrate on their next game instead of lamenting their loss.