The Nation Newspaper

Tag: RANGERS

  • Eagles striker happy with Rangers return

    Eagles striker happy with Rangers return

    Home-based Super Eagles striker Sanusi Sanni has told futaa.com he is not only relieved but equally excited to resume training with his Glo Nigeria Premier League side, Enugu Rangers after over three months in the sidelines owing to injury.

    Sanni who cupped a knee injury during a CAF Confederations Cup first leg tie against CS Sfaxien months back at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium in Enugu told futaa.com he never expected to be away for such a long time.

    “I did not believe that I will be away for a long time like this, you remember I told you once my teammates get a good result in the second leg, I will join them immediately in the Group phase,” Sanni recounted.

    However, even though the Flying Antelopes went to Sfax and secured the result that saw them pull through to the group stage, they were sent packing from the second-tier Africa club competition on allegation of fielding an ineligible player in person of goal keeper Emmanuel Daniel.

    Sanni expectedly is unhappy about that but hopes they can still salvage something from the season.

    “I’m happy to be back even though many things happened while I was away; we just have to stay focus now and try to finish the season strongly,” Sanni concluded.

    While Rangers are seen by many as outsiders for the League crown a strong finish to their League campaign can earn them a continental ticket next season.

     

  • Dolphins vs Rangers, biggest crowd in eight years

    Dolphins vs Rangers, biggest crowd in eight years

    The League game in Port Harcourt between Dolphins and Rangers recorded the biggest turn out the club has seen in eight years.

    According to Dolphins media officer, China Acheru, the last time the club saw that number of people in a home league game was in 2005 in the final of the CAF Confederation Cup first leg against Club Africain of Tunisia.

    “The figure was put at a little below ten thousand people and this was given to us by the head of ticketing at the stadium. The turnout was unprecedented, but thanks to HARP, our jersey endorsement partners who activated the deal on the day of the game and after a series of road shows, radio broadcasts and other promos, the fans turned out in their numbers.

    “We all know Dolphins hardly have fans in their home games but the turning point we believe was that Rangers game as the next game after that which was against Enyimba had a sizeable turn out, though not as much as that against Rangers,” Acheru said.

    Between 2005 and now, the other time Dolphins had a record turnout was the last day of the 2008/09 season against First Bank in Port Harcourt.

    That day Dolphins gained promotion back to the Premier League and there was a party at the stadium that had artists like Duncan Mighty, Pero of Stone Cold and Sky B.

  • Obiozor saves the day for Rangers

    Obiozor saves the day for Rangers

    Christian Obiozor bagged a brace to help Enugu Rangers battle from a goal down to secure a 2-1 home win over Lobi Stars in a Week 28 game played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on Wednesday.

    The Coal City football faithful were stunned when Lobi took the lead against the run of play courtesy of a goal from Agbanyi Joshua in the 15th minute.

    The hosts searched desperately for an equaliser with Chinedu Udeagha and Obiozor coming close to hitting the target. Obiozor finally headed home an equaliser in the 40th minute, to bring both teams back on level terms going into the break.

    Obiozor struck again in the second half to put Rangers in front after he was left unmarked inside Lobi’s vital area, and the proved decisive as the Flying Antelopes won the game 2-1.

    The gangling striker, who joined Rangers from a local side in the mid-season transfer window, has now scored four goals for Rangers, having also hit the target against Nembe City and Gombe United in Week 22 and Week 26 respectively.

    Rangers are still placed seventh on the league table with 42 points from 28 games, only three points off table topping Enyimba. The points difference being a clear evidence of the stiff competitiveness of the Glo Premier League this season.

  • Loss of concentration, our albatross — Lobi

    Loss of concentration, our albatross — Lobi

    • Club lose 2-1 to Rangers in Enugu

    Lobi Stars have blamed their lack of focus as the major reason for their loss at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu to Rangers International.

    The Makurdi Bombers shot into a surprise lead in the 15th minute when Lobi’s academy graduate, Joshua Abanyi scored the curtain raiser to the delight of his team mates.

    The hosts, however, fought back and scored two goals through Christian Obiozor in the 40th and 50th minutes, to hand all points to the Flying Antelopes.

    Abanyi, popularly called human computer, evaded Rangers players to plant the lead in the 15th minute, but gangling Obiozor leapt to nod home the equaliser about five minutes before halftime as both sides ended the first half one goal apiece.

    At the restart of the second half, Obiozor again popped up to punish fumbling Lobi’s defender, Stephen Eze to score what turned out to be the match winner in the 50th minute.

    The win catapulted Rangers to 7th on the log with 42 points from 28 matches, while Lobi wollow in the relegation zone with the loss, as they remain on 35 points from 28 matches.

    In a brief chat with SportingLife after the encounter, Lobi’s Boss, Dominic Iorfa put the blame on the loss of concentration of his wards and he promised to liaise with the technical crew on how best to correct this ahead of their weekend game at home to Nasarawa United.

    “We lost due to our inability to stay focus for the entire 90 minutes and we paid dearly for it with Rangers coming back to haunt us with two goals after we had scored first.

    “We don’t have to dwell too much on this loss. We would go back home and correct our errors to get back to winning ways. I still want to reiterate that Lobi will not go on relegation. We shall get enough points to remain in the elite division next season,” Iorfa urged.

  • KWARA UTD 1-0 ENUGU RANGERS

    KWARA UTD 1-0 ENUGU RANGERS

    Kwara United’s helmsman, Samson Unuanel has hailed the Afonja Warriors’ latest home win over Enugu Rangers in a match day 25 tie played at the Kwara State Stadium yesterday.

    Stanley Dimgba converted a penalty that sealed all points for the home team to the angst of the away team.

    The Ilorin based club moved to third on the log with 41 points from 25 games after securing their second straight victory in two games.

    Unuanel explained to SportingLife that the win came at the right time and that he still has a lot of work to do to tell his wards not to allow their impressive results of recent to get into their heads as they approach the crucial stages of the season.

    Meanwhile , Enugu Rangers have termed the centre referee that officiated their matchday 25 tie with Kwara United as a killjoy after they alleged he concocted a penalty kick that never existed to aid the home team to victory.

    In a text message sent to SportingLife, Enugu Rangers Director of Media and Publicity, Foster Chime said it was the match officials that punctured their dream of leaving Ilorin with at least a point.

    It was also similar report in Bauchi, where 3SC alleged that the centre referee, Garuba Hamsa from Kano turned a spoiler and overruled Ighodaro Osagona’s 90th minute goal to deny the Oluyole Warriors a valuable point against Wikki Tourists.

    The goal had come off a free kick taken by Femi Oladapo just outside the box thus making the scoreline to end 2-1 in favour of the home team.

    Solomon Jabason and Alaba Sakin had put the Bauchi side ahead in twice in the 4th and 8th minutes before Taofeek Adepoju pulled a goal back in the 43rd minute in a game 3SC alleged was watched by appreciable crowd despite the behind the closed doors order by the LMC.

  • Rangers’ GM to players Beat Kwara United, get N500k

    Rangers’ GM to players Beat Kwara United, get N500k

    • Flying Antelopes coaches receive balance of last season’s signing-on fees

    The General Manager of Enugu Rangers Paul Chibuzor Ozor has promised players of the Flying Antelopes N500,000 if they beat Kwara United at Ilorin today in matchday 25 of the Globacom Premier League.

    Rangers beat Kaduna United 2-1 on Sunday to rise to 7th on the log with 36 points and Ozor told SportingLife in a telephone chat that he had assured the players they would get N500,000 from him if they shock their hosts, the Afonja Warriors at home.

    The General Manager also told SportingLife that the technical crew of the Coal City side received the balance of last season’s signing-on fees, and that discussions have reached an advance stage for the release of the current season’s signing-on fees for both players and officials.

    Ozor said that because of Rangers players’ gracefulness in defeat away to Warri Wolves in a matchday 23 tie, the players were given N200,000 as motivation.

    He also explained that the players received their outstanding three-match bonuses and salaries for the month of July shortly before the home win against Kaduna United.

    Ozor rounded off by stating that the club still hope to win the appeal they have concluded plans to send to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. It will be filed as soon as they get the go-ahead from the Enugu State Government through the provision of the US$80,000 (about N13million) appeal fees.

     

  • Rangers stop Kaduna Utd 2-1 in Enugu

    Rangers stop Kaduna Utd 2-1 in Enugu

    Enugu Rangers and Warri Wolves recorded contrasting results in match day 24 games of the Globacom Premier League played in Enugu and Lafia respectively.

    At the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, the Flying Antelopes prevailed over a stubborn Kaduna United 2-1 while Warri Wolves survived two penalty kicks to draw 1-1 against Nasarawa United.

    Meshack Chukwubuikem and Chisom Egbuchulam were both on the scorer’s chart for Rangers in the 53rd and 79th minutes.

    The win catapulted the Coal City team to 7th on the log with 36 points from 24 games.

    At the Lafia Stadium, Warri Wolves got the curtain raiser in the 60th minute through Joseph Osadaiye but the home team fought back gamely and equalised through Jackson Daniel in the 77th minute.

    Nasarawa United would have won the match by a comfortable margin had they converted two spot kicks awarded the side in the second half but both got spurned by Leonard Ugochukwu and Ibrahim Ibrahim.

    Warri Wolves’ media officer Moses Etu however alleged poor officiating but was grateful the Seasiders would be returning to Warri for a tie with Enyimba without a defeat.

    He nonetheless dedicated the draw in Lafia to the head coach of the team, Solomon Ogbeide who celebrated his birthday on August 9.

    “We are not happy that this kind of officiating is allowed in the Nigerian league. It is a shame that the centre referee awarded two unjustifiable penalties but we thank God both were lost.

    “This hard-earned draw is dedicated to the coach of the team. He celebrated his birth day on the 9th of August, so he deserves all the accolades. We shall go back to Warri and try to be refreshed ahead of our tie with Enyimba on Wednesday,” Etu told SportingLife.

    Warri Wolves are 3rd on the log with 38 points from 24 games while Nasarawa United are on 30 points from as many games.

  • Rangers need N12.8m for CAS appeal

    Rangers need N12.8m for CAS appeal

    SportingLife has scooped that Enugu Rangers will need about US$80,000 (N12,800,000) to table an appeal over their disqualification from the CAF Confederation Cup at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

    The Flying Antelopes were declared to have fielded an ineligible player, Emmanuel Daniel, during their CAF Cup second leg second round tie against CS Sfaxien of Tunisia and were subsequently thrown out of the second tier club competition by CAF.

    But the Coal City side’s desire to upturn the decision at CAS depends on the club paying the close to 13 million Naira appeal fee before the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) can facilitate the transmission of the club’s appeal to the headquarters of CAS in Lausanne, Switzerland.

    Revealing this to SportingLife, a top official of Rangers said that the club has approached the state government to help source for the funds which they say would be difficult to raise on their own.

    It is unclear if the Enugu State Government will agree to provide the cash.

    “We want to go ahead with taking the case to CAS. We believed we were unjustly disqualified from the Confederation Cup but the appeal’s processing fee of 80,000 dollars is proving to be a big stumbling block to our quest.

    “We as a club don’t have such money. We have written to the state government to help us out but we are yet to hear from them,” the source told SportingLife.

    SportingLife recalls that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary, Barr. Musa Amadu recently advised Rangers not to go on with the appeal to CAS as it could be a futile bid.

    He stressed that since CS Sfaxien of Tunisia the club that replaced Rangers had already played two matches, the Coal City side could only get financial compensation at the most, if their appeal succeeded at CAS.

  • Rangers duo banned for two matches

    Rangers duo banned for two matches

    Enugu Rangers’ Pierre Coly and Seun Taro will both sit out the next two games of the Flying Antelopes after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)’s Appeals Committee extended their punishments.

    The NFF’s Organising and Disciplinary (O&D) Committee freed the duo during its last sitting but a top official of the club told SportingLife that the League Management Company (LMC) appealed against the verdict and suggested that both players should be banned till the end of the season.

    SportingLife gathered that although the Appeals Committee did not agree with the suggestion of the LMC, it ordered that the two should serve additional two-match suspensions which has ruled them out of ties against Warri Wolves (on Sunday) and a home tie against Kaduna United next week.

    Both players allegedly assaulted match officials after the Flying Antelopes’ match day 3 goalless draw at home to Warri Wolves and both were suspended indefinitely before the O&D lifted their suspensions. But the Appeals Committee has now given the additional punishment to the duo.

    A Rangers top official said they received the letter stopping the duo from their two league fixtures on Wednesday.

    Speaking with SportingLife, the official alleged that the two were suspended because the powers that be do not want them to feature against Warri Wolves this weekend.

    “We got the information that we won’t be able to use two of our best players – Seun Taro and Pierre Coly – in our next two league matches on Wednesday. They won’t play against Warri Wolves and Kaduna United.

    “We were told the Appeals Committee sat on their cases based on the recommendations from the LMC that they should still be suspended till the end of the season after the NFF’s O&D had already freed them.

    “We are not surprised at all because we can see the writing on the wall that some forces are bent on ensuring that we do not use both of them against Warri Wolves.”

    “It is unfair and we were told the judgement is final, we can’t appeal it again,” the official explained to SportingLife.

    Rangers are 7th on the log with 33 points from 22 games and they will have a mountain to climb this weekend at the Warri City Stadium against a rejuvenated Warri Wolves.

  • FEDERATION CUP ROUND OF 16 Enugu Rangers, Akwa United talk tough

    FEDERATION CUP ROUND OF 16 Enugu Rangers, Akwa United talk tough

    Enugu Rangers have stated their determination to pip Akwa United to the quarter final slot of the 2013 Federation Cup when both clubs square up at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, today in a round of 16 match.

    The Flying Antelopes beat Samba of Kano 2-0 while Akwa United sent Makwada of Adamawa packing during the Round of 32 games played recently.

    Speaking with SportingLife ahead of the clash, the director of media and publicity of Rangers, Foster Chime, stated that the Coal City side are not noted for boasting ahead of a match but instead wait to play their games one after the other.

    He said Rangers were poised to get the ticket to the next round irrespective of the antics of their opponents.

    “We are people of few words. We are coming to Owerri to play Akwa United like we have always been approaching our games and we are expecting a win because we are prepared for them,” Chime said.

    The Team Manager of Akwa United Aniete Ukpa said the game would be tough but warned that the Uyo side were not ready to play second fiddle in Owerri to any club including Rangers.

    He said because of the adequate preparation from the players and the coaches, he was expecting a win that would take the club to the quarter final.

    “We shall conquer. We have prepared very well for this and I don’t think Rangers have the clout to stop us now. I know it will be tough but Akwa United will carry the day,” Ukpa told SportingLife.