By Samson Ezea
I have continued to run out of ideas and still feel confused about the appropriate words and language to aptly and suitably describe the crowd that trooped out en masse recently at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, to watch the Enugu Rangers Football Club and Enyimba Football Club match that ended in a stalemate. This was before the Nigeria Premiership League Management Team gave a verdict in favor of Rangers and punished the two teams accordingly for exhibiting violence.
I am still short of semantics and, at the same time, overwhelmed. Not because of the fantastic and compact game the Rangers players displayed or the disruption of the game by angry Enyimba fans and players over the award of a penalty to Rangers at the twilight of the game after a foul was committed, but because of the unprecedented, mammoth, gargantuan, enormous, enthusiastic, cheering, elated, bipartisan, and loving crowd at the stadium.
The crowd was historic, massive, overwhelming, unexpected, organic, apolitical, contagious, and unique. How was this possible, especially at a time when sports in Nigeria, football in particular, had been relegated, abandoned, and replaced with the love and quest for foreign leagues by Nigerians who preferred spending time and money to watch foreign clubs and their players?
At a time when players in Nigeria’s local leagues and clubs struggle to make ends meet or be recognized in society because of the way the governments and club owners have treated and are still treating them, Rangers Football Club of Enugu, Enugu State Governor, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, and his team made it possible for the players, their technical team, and fans to shine.
It would be recalled that on assumption of office, Governor Mbah, who took to disruptive innovation in all sectors of the state economy, placed a premium on reviving sports, especially at the grassroots level, knowing full well that sports is the greatest catalyst for massive development, job creation, talent harnessing, and overall social well-being.
Also knowing the place of Rangers in the history of soccer as a symbol and identity of the Southeast region and Igbo race in particular, Governor Mbah appointed a formidable, tested, and experienced Rangers technical team led by FIFA and UEFA licensed soccer expert and seasoned administrator, Barr. Amobi Ezeaku as Chief Executive Officer and General Manager and Mr. Fidelis Ilechukwu as Manager.
To ensure that the players are at home and enjoy enormous support when playing home matches, Governor Mbah quickly completed the massive renovation and overhauling of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, known as the Cathedral. This made it possible for Rangers to commence playing their home matches at the stadium since December last year. The players and technical team of Enugu Rangers have enjoyed and still enjoy the best of relationships, motivation, and support from Governor Mbah’s administration. They were allowed free hand to operate professionally.
So far, the Rangers players and technical team have reciprocated and justified Governor Mbah’s unflinching support by remaining on a winning streak, topping the league, and looking certain to lift the trophy. Even the General Manager, Amobi Ezeaku, was on the pitch for the club in the week 23 league match against Niger Tornadoes of Minna, which Rangers won by two goals to nothing.
It is this consistency, winning streak, and outstanding performance of the club, and Governor Mbah’s ceaseless commitment and support for the team, that have rekindled people’s interests, investments, and support for the once darling club of the Southeast region and pride of the Igbos after the Civil War.
It is glaringly certain that Rangers will lift this year’s league trophy. This will make Governor Mbah another jinx-breaking Governor of the state after his predecessor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, under whom, within one year in office, Rangers won the 2016 league trophy and the 2018 NFF/AITEO Federation Cup after 32 trophyless years.
As ndi Enugu urge Governor Mbah to be steadfast in his commitment to Rangers Football Club, I thank all lovers of the club for maintaining this outstanding and momentous support for Rangers International Club. Up Rangers!!!
