The Nation Newspaper

Tag: RANGERS

  • Uzoenyi trains with Rangers

    Uzoenyi trains with Rangers

    • Insists on Sundowns contract

    Ex-Eagles star Ejike Uzoenyi has maintained he still has a running contract with African champions, Mamelodi Sundowns even though he has been training with former club, Enugu Rangers.
    “I am just training with my former club to keep fit, any moment from now I am going back to South Africa. I don’t know the time, but I know I will leave soon,” Uzoenyi said.
    “If I don’t have a contract again what will I go and do in South Africa? I have an existing contract.”
    It is understood the contract pays him five million Rands (about N100 million ) a year.
    Uzoenyi, whose career has been hampered by injuries, trained fully with the Rangers squad on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.
    He looked sharp and lively not like a player who has not played competitive football for almost two years now.
    His agent has previously hinted on a move away from Sundowns and he even trained with another South African club SuperSport United but nothing came out of it.

  • Abia Warriors won’t take Rangers tie lightly – Onuoha

    Abia Warriors won’t take Rangers tie lightly – Onuoha

    Abia Warriors media officer, Igwe Onuoha has predicted a tough game between his side and league champions, Rangers International FC of Enugu in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) opener at the Umuahia Township stadium.

    The coach Okey Emordi tutored side resumed camping on Sunday after the Yuletide break. Onuoha revealed that players showed that they are ready for the business for their large turn-out in Sunday’s training.

    “The players and officials resumed training today after break and we have large turn-out. The players cut short their break to prepare for the game against Rangers. Rangers have been in camp for the past one week to show you that they are preparing too. The game is a local derby and it is going to be tough. We have all our players ready both old and new players.

    “Rangers are defending champions and this will be their first league game after winning their title last season. They will want to give everything into the game and we want to start on a winning note too. So people should expect an explosive game. Emordi and his coaching crew are getting the players ready for the game. I believe we can get good result in the game,” Onouha said to SportingLife.

  • Rangers can’t locate plots of land donated by governor

    Rangers can’t locate plots of land donated by governor

    Players and officials of champions, Enugu Rangers have cried out that they are yet to know exactly where the plots of land donated to them by the state governor are located.
    Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi donated a plot of land at “Rangers Estate” each as well as cash to Rangers after they won the league in October.
    The players and officials have now come out to say they are yet to receive the cash, neither do they know where the land is located.
    “My brother you are talking about documents of land at the moment, we don’t know anything about the land talk less of the location of the land,” one of players lamented
    Another player added: “I am not from Enugu State, it’s football that brought me here, so I don’t know much about this area. Anyway we are yet to be communicated where the land is.”
    It is also understood the cash gift from the governor has yet to be withdrawn from Zenith Bank.

  • Rangers declare Egbuchulam missing

    Rangers declare Egbuchulam missing

    Enugu Rangers have insisted that they did not authorise the departure of their star striker, Chisom Egbuchulam to Tunisia where he is reportedly close to joining Etoile du Sahel.
    A statement from the Rangers’ Director of Media and Publicity, Foster Chime noted that: “We were surprised to read in the papers that Chisom had travelled to Tunisia without seeking permission from us officially.
    “Our players are on break and we were not in position to monitor his movement while not with us. We have started discussions with Etoile du Sahel but our valuation of the player and theirs is miles apart and we do not intend to back down on the $500,000 we have placed on him.
    “He is still our player because he is still contracted to us till 2018. Etoile du Sahel cannot go behind us to discuss with Chisom directly when we have not given them the permission to do so. We have reported to the appropriate quarters from the NFF to CAF and FIFA and we are willing to explore all the possible means to ensure that we get the services of our player back if they are not willing to pay the asking price.”

  • Nwobodo set to return for Rangers after injury

    Nwobodo set to return for Rangers after injury

    Obinna Nwobodo has said he hopes to soon return to action after he was injured in a pre-season game for Enugu Rangers.
    The injury against Niger Tornadoes ruled him out of the NPFL Super 4, which Rivers United won.
    “I got injured in a pre-season friendly against Niger Tornadoes in Benin City and so I missed the Super 4,” he disclosed.
    “But I am getting better and I am almost coming back.”
    The former Flying Eagles star midfielder has been linked with a transfer overseas and he said he will not rule out the possibility of moving abroad.
    “I am still a Rangers player, but nothing says I will not be playing in Europe the next day,” he said.
    Offensive midfielder Nwobodo was outstanding last season as Rangers won the league after a 32-year wait.

  • Rangers begin title defence against Abia Warriors

    Nigeria champions Enugu Rangers will begin their title defence at home against regional rivals Abia Warriors on the opening day of the new season.

    However, the date for the big kick-off is yet to be announced.

    In other matches, Enyimba take on Sunshine Stars, MFM are home to Niger Tornadoes, Kano Pillars face FC IfeanyiUbah, 3SC welcome Lobi Stars and Wikki battle Nasarawa United.

    In other opening day clashes, Akwa United  will be away to ABS, Rivers United face El Kanemi in Port Harcourt, Katsina are home to another promoted club Gombe United and new boys Remo Stars battle Plateau United.

    Four clubs have been promoted to the top flight – Remo Stars, ABS FC, Gombe United and Katsina United.

    Rangers were champions last season with Rivers United finishing as runners-up.

    Both teams will represent Nigeria in next year’s CAF Champions League.

    Wikki Tourists placed third and will feature in the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup.

  • NPFL SUPER 4 Wikki, Rangers end it goalless

    NPFL SUPER 4 Wikki, Rangers end it goalless

    Wikki Tourist and Enugu Rangers played a goalless draw yesterday in their NPFL Super Four Match Day two tie played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

    It was hitherto regarded as the star match of the pre season tournament taking place in Enugu but both sides didn’t offer much to the expectant fans who were scattered at the stadium and Rangers’

    Bright Silas and Ocheme Edoh will rue some glaring chances they failed to convert in the first half.

    Rangers’ head coach, Imama Amapakabo kept to his pre-match talk of fielding an entirely 11 new players against the Bauchi side but Wikki named an almost an unchanged side to the one that narrowly beat FC IfeanyiUbah on Wednesday.

    The first half was off-colour and lacked vibes but things improved a bit in the second half when Amapakabo introduced four of his trusted troops: Tope Olusesi, Chinedu Udeagha, Osas Okoro and Godwin Aguda.

    Wikki were far better in the second half especially when their head coach brought on some players from the bench.Both couldn’t cancel out themselves and it was no surprise they played a goalless draw.

  • Awakan envisages turnaround season with Rangers

    Awakan envisages turnaround season with Rangers

    • Says he is ready for Super Four

     

    Enugu Rangers new signing, Abdulafeez Awakan has told SportingLife that his biggest motivation going to the Flying Antelopes is to rebuild his career and help the Coal City side to do well in the Super Four and also retain the league next season.
    Awakan was in the Akwa United side that won the NPFL Super Four before the start of last season’s league and he featured for the Promise Keepers in the ill-fated CAF Confederation Cup campaign where they lost out in the preliminary round and he was subsequently frozen out of the team for indiscipline reasons.
    The Most Valuable Player of the 2015 NFF Federation Cup told SportingLife that he grabbed the offer of a second chance to topflight action handed to him by Enugu Rangers’ head coach, Imama Amapakabo and that he has changed his ways and does not want to be called Balotelli again.
    He said he only wants to be known from now henceforth for the right reasons and that he promised to conduct himself well in Rangers because he does not want to burgle the chance to play for the reigning league champions.
    Awakan has signed a season’s contract with the Flying Antelopes after he joined them as a free agent from Akwa United.

  • Rangers suffer first pre-season loss

    Rangers suffer first pre-season loss

    Enugu Rangers have suffered their first pre season defeat after non league side and former quarter finalists of the Federation Cup, BJ Foundations of Benin humbled the reigning league champions 3-1 last weekend.

    It was the Flying Antelopes’ loss from over six pre season friendlies and they have wiped off that defeat with a 1-0 victory over FC Akomas of Warri on Sunday in Benin.

    The club’s Director of Media and Publicity, Foster Chime told SportingLife that the Enugu side are putting finishing touches to the rest of their preparations in Benin City and that the team would leave their current pre season campsite to their base next week Tuesday in readiness for the commencement of the LMC Super Four slated to start the following day in Enugu.

    The Super Four is expected to feature all the four clubs representing Nigeria in CAF Inter Club competitions next year and it will also usher in the new premier league season which kicks off barely a week after the completion of the tournament in Enugu.

  • Tornadoes Itchy to win Gold Cup *tackle FC Ebiede Friday

     
    Tornadoes coach Abubakar Bala has declared that winning the Gold cup tournament especially as new comers will be a major boost ahead of the new Premier league season in December.
    Bala who has reduced his team to 30 players after serious screening admitted that it was not an easy decisions as virtually all the players look good noting however that there was no way he could take everybody.
    “Winning the Gold cup will no doubt be a major boost for us especially considering that we are new comers, but we intend to do our very best,” he said.
    The level of competition witnessed last season according to him is an indication that the new season will be full of fireworks. “Preparation for next season has to be thorough and we are taking it seriously, we have reduced the team to 30 man squad to remain here with us for the Gold Cup.
    “It was a tough decision for us, but as professionals the technical crew ensured that we select the best,”, he said adding that the Gold Cup will provide ample opportunity to watch the new additions in real match situations.
    “I am happy that the boys showed high level of maturity after I named the 30-man squad. Those that could not make the team are even wished the club well as they move on with their lives.
    Tornadoes will kick off the Gold Cup on Friday against FC Ebiede in Ijebu Ode. The Minna based side had earlier played some friendly matches against New Generation Academy of Lagos, Lobi Stars and Rangers respectively.