Enugu Rangers are champions of the Nigerian Professional Football league after beating Bendel Insurance 2-0, with goals from Augustine Kenechukwu and Chidiebere Nwobodo, at their home patch (The Cathedral) in Enugu. As closest rivals Remo Stars and Enyimba also lost, Rangers had an unassailable lead with just one game remaining.
This trophy joins the other league trophies in the cabinet from 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984, and 2016, making the Flying Antelopes one of the most successful clubs in Nigeria. They are also the only side to have never been relegated from the Nigerian top flight.
However the 32 year gap between the league win in 2016 and the last title success in 1984 was a source of embarrassment for Rangers fans and produced a lot of material for banter from opposing fans. Victory in 2016 brought a lot of joy in Enugu and kept Rangers’ detractors at bay for some time. There was a crucial link between the title-winners of 2016 and yesterdays’ champions in the person of the current general manager of the club, Amobi Ezeaku. He was team manager when they won in 2016 and now heads the entire operations after being appointed CEO of the club in August 2023.
Ezeaku has been a breath of fresh air, turning around what is an institution in southeast Nigeria with fresh ideas that are commonplace among professional clubs in Europe. Under his leadership Rangers replica shirts have gone on sale to fans, allowing them to identify with and promote their club. He has revamped the club’s social media presence, engaging with fans on Twitter Spaces and tapping into the sentiment that Rangers is “more than a club” to its fans. Ezeaku calls the club “a movement” and he has been instrumental in “taking Rangers to the world” with innovations such as creating a Rangers app that allows the club to connect with fans worldwide.
One Rangers fan in his blog likened to spirit behind Rangers to what Barcelona means to Catalonia in Spain: Barca was a symbol of the Spanish region of Catalunya’s resistance to General Franco’s dictatorship in Spain, representing their desire for a separate identity from the rest of Spain and even independence. Enugu Rangers came into being after the Nigerian civil war in 1970 and became a symbol of identity for the defeated Igbos who formed the majority in the breakaway Eastern Region that failed in the attempt to become the independent republic of Biafra.
So Rangers were “more than just a club” for most Igbos back then, as they embraced an all-conquering team that seemed to be to saying to the rest of Nigeria: “we may have been beaten on the battle field, but we won’t be beaten on the football field”.
While Rangers was founded in 1970 after the Nigerian civil war, its founder Jerry Enyeazu saw it as a process, as he explained in the book, “Rangers International (The story of Nigeria’s all-conquering clubside): “The formation of Rangers did not just happen. Contrary to what many people think, the idea was not a response to the civil war which had just ended. It was a continuation of my involvement in sports at the highest levels which predated the war. I was looking for a way to gainfully engage some of the young people whom I came across before and during the war”.
Back in the 1970s, very few fans in the region cared much about European clubs. They embraced Rangers with a passion to help Enyeazu and his co-founders fulfil their ambitions. That tradition started in 1970 has been continued by Ezeaku, who regularly acknowledges and appreciates the history surrounding the club, but is keen to continue to make history and build the stuff of more legend.
Rangers used to produce about half of the players that represented Nigeria at national level in the 1970s from legends like Christian Chukwu, Emmanuel Okala, Aloysius Atuegbu, Adokie Amiesimaka and so on. But this talent pool dried up as most Nigerian players, especially from the 1990s moved abroad to advance their careers. This has started to change in recent times with Rangers left back Kenneth Igboke called up for national team duty last month.
The other sea change in recent times has seen football lovers in Enugu embracing their local team in their droves, as opposed to identifying with top English clubs. The sights from The Cathedral from the derby against Enyimba last week were like a throwback to the heady days of the 1970s – that was when the grounds were full by noon for 3pm kick-off. Against Enyimba, the numbers inside the stadium looked to have exceeded the 22,000 capacity, with the sights and sounds from there going viral.
Thank you, Ndi Enugwu. Thank you, Amazing fans of Rangers.
With heartfelt gratitude ❤️🔴⚪️❤️#HistoryTogether #NeverSayDie⚽️🏆 pic.twitter.com/rJzJjtboJu
— Rangers International FC (@Rangers_Intl) June 10, 2024
It wasn’t just the fans voting with their feet and coming to support Rangers, but it’s amazing to now witness Nigerian clubs being part of the conversation on social media, with success on the pitch earning bragging rights for Rangers fans. Ex-Rangers and Nigeria striker Charles Okonkwo took to Facebook to express his feelings about his club sealing the league championship: “I am beside myself with absolute joy”. Kenneth Boardman, who starred at rightback for Rangers and Nigeria in the early to mid 1980s told Naijiant.com: “Congratulations to the players, fans, management and the governor of Enugu State. This is a great achievement although we have won it many times. It is special each time we win it. I am very proud to be part of Rangers International FC as a league champion and FA champion winners. Never Say Die. God bless Rangers International FC”.
Another buccaneering rightback and ex-skipper of Rangers Ike Ofoje was equally elated by the league title and spoke to us from his South Carolina base: “The ex-Rangers International Players Association USA were thrilled watching the boys clinch another league title. The atmosphere around the stadium looked like it used to be in the 70s and 80s. It was awesome. I would like to congratulate the players and the coaching staff for a great season. And commend the management and the CEO Amobi Ezeaku for elevating the status of the club to International level in all aspects. I feel blessed and proud for the privilege to have gone through that institution called Enugu Rangers!!! We did it again. I hope we ride this wave into the CAF Champions league next year. Congratulations boys.”
Enugu State governor Peter Mbah, who appointed Ezeaku, tweeted yesterday: This evening, we witnessed a reenactment of the greatness that Enugu is known for. Our darling @Rangers_Intl made us proud yet again, defeating Bendel Insurance FC with a score of 2-0. This is the eighth time the team has clinched the championship position. Remarkably, this victory is a defining one, qualifying them for the CAF Champions League. They have shown that success doesn’t occur by soulful wishing but through painstaking planning and hardwork. As a government, we shall ensure there’s a reward system to motivate them to strive to bring home the trophy. In Enugu State, we are still in the business of transforming the sports industry and that includes the sports infrastructure – building world-class facilities and upgrading existing ones to world-class. We have only just begun. Congratulations to the Flying Antelopes!
This evening, we witnessed a reenactment of the greatness that Enugu is known for. Our darling @Rangers_Intl made us proud yet again, defeating Bendel Insurance FC with a score of 2-0. This is the eighth time the team has clinched the championship position.
Remarkably, this… pic.twitter.com/dCW2sXk6xd
— Peter Ndubuisi Mbah (@PNMbah) June 16, 2024
The governor is absolutely right about the importance of motivation and an enabling environment for the players to do their best. One of Rangers biggest motivators is Benson Ejindu, the patron of the Ex-Enugu Rangers Players Association, who is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and has promised to do more to help the club bring more joy to fans: “I want to congratulate the players and staff of Rangers International on winning the league title. I have been following their exploits this season and have been impressed by their skill, dedication and commitment to a club that means so much to us. As ever, I will continue to contribute my bit to motivate the players to maintain this level of success and achieve greater heights on the continental scene.”
Coach Fidelis Ilechukwu deserves accolades for leading Rangers to their first trophy in eight years in his first season in charge. Some have started calling him “The Special One” suggesting he is Nigeria’s Jose Mourinho. Ilechukwu rejected that tag saying, “I’m not the Special One. They call me the Working One”. He went on to declare that they had the “best technical team and the best tactical team” in the league, also praising the management of Ezeaku in delivering the championship.
Ezeaku’s reaction on Twitter after victory summed up the kind of person he is. He tweeted simply: “Thank you Mighty God”. This sentiment was echoed by Okey Okafor, a Rangers fan in Germany, who wrote on social media: “I will wear the white one [Rangers shirt] for this coming Sunday Church. Time to give thanksgiving for blessing us with another championship”.
