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Nigerian Football

Rangers ‘Worship’ at The Cathedral as Champions

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BY HARRY IWUALA.

 

Dateline: October 2, 2016: The surge of human and vehicular traffic on the popular Ogui Road stretched to the Otigba Junction coming from the left side of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium. It has sometime in the course of the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season been nicknamed “the Cathedral”.

They were all headed to the stadium with different banners but all chanting the famous song of old: “Rangers International, another champion”.

By the end of the evening when Rangers defeated El-Kanemi Warriors to lift their first league title in 32 years, there were over 25,000 fans inside the dome and many more outside.

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There were all shades on Rangers followers on that day at the stadium, ranging from the very rich to the impoverished, the very important and the proletariat, the popular and the unknown, the old, the youth and children, male and female.

It was a scene similar to January 20, 2008, when African Americans watched with teary eyes, smiles of history and sighs of relief as Barack Obama was sworn in as the first ever African American President in the over 200 years of Democracy in the nation of Star spangled banner.

Rangers’ fans on October 3, 2016 also wept at the renaissance of the club. Tears of joy flowed because just like the African Americans who never believed there will be an Obama having endured over two centuries of slavery and civil rights denials, many of the older Rangers fans confessed; they never knew they will live to see such spectacle.

Sunday, September 3, 2017: At the same Cathedral, seven times champion and eastern neighbours, Enyimba International; were in Enugu for the traditional Oriental Derby but the crowd came in trickles despite the high stakes for both sides in the fixture.

But as the encounter progressed with the visitors a goal up, a sudden burst of arrivals hit the stands. Estimates at the end of the match which saw Rangers claw back to a 1-1 draw was put at over 12,000.

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As was aptly captured by former Nigerian international and one time African Player of the Year, Victor Ikpeba, one of the pundits for Supersport, the Official Broadcast partner to the league, “we have half of the fans that witnessed the trophy presentation coming to say goodbye to the trophy”.

But earlier before the kick-off, a member of Rangers Management had lamented the drop in Rangers’ fortune on and off the field and while not submitting that the change in Management is a factor, suggested that they had the wrong persons at the helm.

He expressed reservations that the club lost an opportunity to build on last season’s greatness because ideas to entice fans to the stadium were not being addressed.

It was learnt that in a bid to shore up the dwindling numbers on the stands, Flavour, the Enugu local who has found continental fame through music was approached to hold up the club’s famous red and white flag as a form of endorsement which he readily agreed. But that huge goodwill was not put to use, it was learnt.

This and perhaps, the poor run, exit of key players may explain the huge drop in numbers at the Cathedral which recorded an average of 18,000 in attendance every match day last season.

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Now Different Stroke: From Celebrating Title to Joy of Survival

 

From reactions on the stands during the match, Rangers fans must have longed for a valedictory win and indeed to complete a double over Enyimba.

Despite what some of them adjudged as unfair calls by the Referee, their glee was not to be denied at the final whistle which saw over 2000 of them breach the security to invade the pitch in light hearted mirth.

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They turned the turf to a privileged playground, dancing even when there was no music from the loud speakers. Others executed acrobatic displays, doing continuous back flips and seeking ‘Selfie’ photo shots with the players and with each other. You would think it was a celebration of title.

Catching up with an elderly fan, Francis Ogbodo who sat rooted on one of the state box seats, he surveyed the scene with deep contemplation and when nudged to give his thoughts, said, “I am just wondering how the celebration of nearly a year ago has turned to a celebration of survival of relegation.

“After a 32-year wait to win the title, we have now gone back below where we started from. It is sad and not a good story to tell the young fans.

“Our support for Rangers has been sustained by the exploits of the past but what will the younger ones hold on to? It is the reason they are Arsenal, Manchester, Chelsea etc etc.”, concluded Ogbodo as he held the arm rest to support his effort to be on his feet.

“Earlier in the day at a popular restaurant, Emily off Ogui Road, I had run into Chibuzor Ozor, the long serving General Manager who superintended the historic win by Rangers before he was relieved of the job.

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“Ozor, called Sayama by some of his friends and associates walks with a bounce. Standing slightly above 4 feet; Ozor who also goes by the nickname, ‘Americana’ dresses to please his senses and not for popular acclaim.

“At the lunch hour encounter, he was dressed in starched Italian linen white short sleeved shirt and trousers and after the pleasantries, exclaimed in his affected American accent, “my men, you guys have forgotten me…oh, that’s the way of life but you are my friend and should not abandon me”.

There are those who believe that the problems Rangers encountered in the about to end season started right from the podium where the Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi accompanied by the Deputy Senate President, Ikechukwu Ekweremadu received the trophy from the team captain, Okey Odita.

A friend from the media pointed out that the governor delivered no inspiring comments to the players and management. He was admonished by another that the occasion was not for making speeches and promises.

The next news out of Enugu was the city trophy tour of the players aboard a rickety truck that won’t be certified to transport livestock.

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Thereafter, the blames trading started with some anonymous sources pointing to the direction of the former state commissioner for sports as the brain behind the road show of shame.

Finally, shortly before Christmas, the Governor hosted the team and promised cash reward totalling N41.5m and lands. The players went away grumbling. The total money offered the players and officials would come to less than N1m for each of the 35 registered players and seven accredited officials.

They started the season in tatters, losing 2-1 to Abia Warriors on opening day and prior to that; had finished third in the pre-season tournament, NPFL Super4 which was organized by the League Management Company in Enugu.

So continued the free fall, Ozor was sacked and replaced by former captain and coach of Rangers, Christian Chukwu. Coach Imama Amapakabo was next after initial disagreements over his contract terms.

Players like Chisom Egbuchulam, voted MVP of the NPFL left for Sweden and was followed by Obinna Nwobodo, another key figure in their run for the title. Others were in and out of camp and the internal squabbles showed in their performance every match day.

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Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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Nigerian Football

Season’s first win for Akwa United and Ikorodu City

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The miserable run of Akwa United and Ikorodu City came to an end after six games in the Nigerian Premier League this season. Both teams were initially glued at the bottom of the league table.

They now got respite as Akwa United beat Kano Pillar by 2-0 while Ikorodu City even did what could be considered an upset, beating Bendel Insurance 3-0.

Remo Stars bounced back to the top of the log after a 3-0 defeat of Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars are yet to get their rhythm this season, playing a barren draw with Enyimba in Ibadan.

Kwara United who got their first full points of the season last week after a 1-0 defeat of Remo Stars could not consolidate as they were beaten 1-0 by Abia Warriors.

Heartland under Emmanuel Amuneke are gradually recovering as they got a valuable away draw against El-Kanemi Warriors.

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Nigerian Football

Behold! Nigeria Football’s October 8 Magic

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Nigeria’s Godwin Iwelumo terrorising Egypt’s goalmouth 47 years ago in an October 8 match. Nigeria won 4-0 inflicting the worst ever defeat on Egypt in a World Cup qualifier.

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

It is 75 years since Nigeria’s national football team first played an international match. That was on 8 October 1949 when the first set of Nigeria’s assembly on their return voyage stopped over in Freetown and engaged Sierra Leone in an international football match. Nigeria won 2-0, setting a chain of positive results on 8 October.

 The country never lost any competitive duel on that date. More significantly, the Super Eagles first qualified for the World Cup on an 8 October date.

 That was in 1993 when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Algeria in the quest for USA ‘94 World Cup.

 Nigeria became the first English-speaking African country to qualify for the World Cup. Another significance of the October 8 match at the July 5 Stadium, Algiers is that Nigeria were unbeaten for the first time by Algeria at home.

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 The only deviation from the 8 October Magic was in 2015 when Nigeria lost 2-0 to Congo in a friendly match.

 Twenty-six years after Nigeria’s debut international match, one of Africa’s biggest football nations, Egypt fell to the October 8 magic, losing 4-0 to Nigeria in the last stage of the triangular World Cup qualifying series for Argentina ’78.

Up till October 15, 2013, when Ghana beat Egypt 6-1 in Kumasi, the October 8, 1977 duel with Nigeria remained Egypt’s biggest loss in a World Cup qualifying match.

 Before the 1977 duel, Nigeria in 1963 played a friendly match with Liberia in Monrovia. The October 8 magic was active, even in an away match. Nigeria drew 2-2 in their very first encounter with Liberia. It was shortly after the team had,  through a protest, upturned a victory by Guinea to pick Nigeria’s very first African Nations’ Cup ticket.

Little wonder then that when FIFA suspended Nigeria in 2010, the world governing body provisionally lifted the ban on October 8!

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Nigeria on 8 October

  • 1949 – Freetown (Friendly) Sierra Leone 0-2 Nigeria
  • 1963 – Monrovia (Friendly) Liberia 2-2 Nigeria
  • 1977 – Lagos (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 4-0 Egypt
  • 1993 – Algiers (World Cup qualifier) Algeria 1-1 Nigeria… qualify for USA ‘94.
  • 2005 – Abuja (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 5-1 Zimbabwe
  • 2010 – FIFA, in apparent respect to the 8 October magic, provisionally lifted a ban imposed on   Nigeria.
  • 2011 – Abuja (African Nations Cup qualifier) Nigeria 2-2 Guinea. Although undefeated, Nigeria failed to make it to the 2012 African Nations Cup.  
  • 2015 – D.R. Congo beat Nigeria 2-0 in Visé, Belgium. The ‘October 8 Magic’ is finally broken.
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Nigerian Football

 Rivers flow to the top!

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Rivers United have launched themselves to the top of the log at the end of the match day 5 of the Nigeria Premier League. The Port Harcourt side beat Akwa United 2-1 to go afloat after initial leaders, Remo Stars crumbled to a 1-0 defeat at Kwara United in Ilorin on Sunday.

It was Remo Stars’ first defeat in the season. Rivers United are now with 13 points. Stephen Mayo put Rivers United ahead after  31 minutes. But it turned a temporary lead as Akwa United bounced back almost at the blast of the referee’s whistle for the second half.  

Friday Apollos levelled up for Akwa United before Ndifreke Effiong Udo scored the winner in the 85th minute.

Sunday Results

  • Kwara United 1-0 Remo Stars
  • Rangers International 1-0 Abia Warriors
  • Heartland FC 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
  •  Kano Pillars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
  • Plateau United 1-0 Ikorodu City
  •  Rivers United 2-1 Akwa United
  •  Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
  •  Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United

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