EXCLUSIVE: Enugu Rangers Embroils In Financial Mess; New Players Intake Not Likely

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, Sports News Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016

By Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

The hope of management of Rangers Interational FC of Enugu to register quality players including foreigners, ahead of the 2015/2016 Nigeria professional Football League, may have been dashed, as a result of lack of funds.

AFRICAN EXAMINER sports reliably gathered from a source close to the Ozor Paul Chibuzor-led management of the team, that the Enugu club side is currently in a deep financial mess.

The source, who craved anonymity and spoke with our Correspondent, informed that the development has hindered the club from registering two foreign players – an Ivorian and Ghanaian, who have indicated interest to play for the club, and have been with it since the beginning of their pre- season training in Benin City, the Edo state capital.

Apart from the two foreign players, our Correspondent also gathered that Rangers handlers, have not been able to register most of the local players it has penciled down to feature in the new season, even when the deadline given by the NPFL, is fast approaching.

It would be recalled that managers of the Nigerian league, gave February 10, 2016 as deadline for the completion of players registration, ahead of 2016/2015 league season which begins on February 2, this year.

It was further gathered that the Enugu State government and financier of the club, has not responded to the letter written to it by Rangers management regarding funds

Investigations by AFRICAN EXAMINER sports revealed that the State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s delay in approving and releasing funds to the club, may not be unconnected with his displeasure over alleged massive corruption and non-prudent management of resources in Rangers over the years.

The Enugu flying Antelopes, as they are fondly called in the soccer cycle, have been playing for over 30 years without winning a trophy, a development that has continued to make the team lose supporters and fans every season.