Rangers Still on Course for Top Finish in NPFL

Kunle Adewale

In spite of some poor results in recent weeks in which the team failed to record a win, five Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL matches, but with win against Sporting Lagos at the Akwa City Stadium last weekend and an away draw midweek in the Oriental Derby, Enugu Rangers eggheads are optimistic that the Flying Antelopes are still on course in their quest to emerge winner of the 2023-24 NPFL.

Rangers were winless in their last five league matches before they hosted Sporting Lagos on Sunday and the host lived up to their home form in which they have won four of their last five home matches, but for missed chances would have come out victorious away to Enyimba.

With three defeats in a row and two draws, including a 2-0 defeat on the road against Bayelsa United. Rangers have won five and lost five of their last 15 league matches, and sit in ninth position with 19 points.

Meanwhile, in its bid to further raise the bars of acceptance of the team and take ownership to the people the management of the Flying Antelopes on Tuesday, appointed a new club ambassador.

At a ceremony at the club’s corporate office, G.R.A, Enugu, the G.M/CEO of Rangers, Amobi Ezeaku, bestowed the club’ ambassadorial status on Martins Ndubueze Nebo.

Highly respected social media influencer, Nebo is the first of many ambassadors lined up for the club by management.

Ezeaku, said in his speech, “Management desires to take Rangers back to the people and it starts by appointing those who are role models to many in the society. The club believes that by being our ambassador, you will help sell the brand to millions of your followers as we work together to take Rangers to the highest level of club football both within and outside the country.”

In his reaction, the new ambassador said, “It is beyond feeling for me at this point of being appointed an ambassador of Rangers Leadership is about connecting to the people. So, I am a connect, everybody on the street is a connect and Rangers is the connect. I hope to be a good ambassador of the greatest football club in the world.”

As a booster to Rangers title quest, the Nigeria Premier Football League board has granted Rangers approval to return to the Nnamdi Azikwe International Stadium, Enugu.

The Flying Antelopes had adopted the Awka City Stadium as their home ground since the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium was declared unfit to host NPFL games.

The club subsequently embarked on extensive rehabilitation of the ground covering re-grassing of the turf, modernisation of the dressing rooms and the spectator stands.

The NPFL took the decision after a recent inspection of the facility on the invitation of Rangers. A correspondence from the NPFL to Rangers and signed by Davidson Owumi the Chief Operating Officer, conveyed the approval which opened the stadium for matches from matchday 16.

The coal city outfit will host traditional rivals Shooting Stars at the ground next week Thursday.