Sports
‘Rangers Sure To Bounce Back’
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rangers International Foot Ball Club of Enugu, Ozor Paul Chibuzor, has expressed optimism that the team which ended last season on a distant 5th position on the League Table has been re-positioned with a view to restoring its lost glory during the forthcoming season billed to kick off later this month.
Making his feelings known in a chat with sports writers in Enugu, the soft spoken club administrator stated that his team was fully prepared for the new season with the retention of about 75 per cent of players that featured for the Coal City ‘Flying Antelopes’ last season, while arrangements have been concluded to get quality players to replace the exited ones.
“I must tell you that Rangers is very much ready to reclaim all its lost glory this coming season. We have learnt our lessons from last season, which, to some extent, have to be celebrated because, for a long while, Rangers have not had the opportunity of playing teams from outside our shores and with our fifth place finish, our fans can enjoy some sort of international football when next season WAFU cup starts,” he said.
Chibuzor further continued that “I can tell you that as I talk, only two players are yet to sign the contract papers with us, and it is because they are in the senior national team. So, we are ready to give Enyimba a run for the trophy they won last season.”
Commenting on reports that players were not willing to sign for the club, and that he was not in the good books of the club’s financier, the club boss declared, “There is no iota of truth in that as I can conveniently tell you that 98 per cent of players that we need for the new season have all signed for us. “All the noise that the club’s supporters want me out is the handiwork of the club’s detractors that are operating within the club.
“But, for some few selfish individuals that are self-seeking, we are an organised group that has one goal of leading Rangers to the promised land this season. For the new season, we can boast of a very dedicated set of players that are willing to spill their blood for the club,” he said.
While enumerating some of them to include the likes of Francis Okammor, Uche Oguchi, Uche Ugochukwu, James Okwosah, John Aguda, Ozor said: “I don’t have any doubt that we will come tops in the coming season.”
On the players and coaches entitlements, he revealed that “ I have had fruitful talks with the state SSG and before the start of the new season, the backlog of dues owed will be settled with something for the new season also offset.”
The Nigeria Football Federation has defended the recent quarter-finals draw for the 2025 President Federation Cup, saying it was conducted in line with best global practices.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee Board, George Aluo, stated that criticism over venues for the quarterfinals was unfortunate.
Going by the fixtures released on Saturday by the football body, Abakaliki FC will take on Nasarawa United in Benin, Wikki Tourists will clash with Ikorodu City in Bwari, Abuja, Akwa United and Kwara United will fight it out in Enugu, just as Area 3, Abuja, will host the encounter between Rangers International and Plateau United. All matches are scheduled for May 3rd for the emergence of semifinalists in a leg affair.
However, there have been criticisms over the Ikorodu United vs Wikki Tourist tie billed for Abuja, with a section of the press saying the venue is skewed in favour of the Bauchi team.
Aluo, also the Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), said: “Some of our media men need better education, and newsmen should not be like the fans out there on the streets. In the English FA Cup, it is always a one-legged pairing that can see a club like Arsenal host Manchester United at home”.
A new contract that will see Act Sports Di Oyibo Limited managing the career of Nigerian teqball specialist, Victor Oyemade, has been signed in Lagos.
The deal gives exclusive rights to Act Sports to manage, and exercise power of attorney over issues relating to the player’s welfare as it concerns his transactions, engagement for professional, promotional, sponsorships, endorsements, and exhibition purposes.
In signing the document, both parties also agreed that proper safeguards would be put in place to protect and promote the player’s interest at all times.
Director of Act Sports, Di Oyibo Limited, Pastor Samuel Robinson Oyibo, excited about the deal, said it would benefit both parties in the area of spreading the message of the sport, as well as laying a firm foundation for his new client’s future.
“Teqball is one of the world’s fastest-growing ball sports, and Victor Oyemade is the face of the sport here in Nigeria and Africa. That is why we are excited about this partnership that gives Act Sports official authorisation to manage his career, just as it will lay the foundation for its rapid growth in our country,” Pastor Oyibo said.
Oyemade was no less excited about the deal, saying it would help his growth in the sport.
Coaches of Nigeria’s U-18 and U-20 women’s handball teams have released their final lists of 14 players ahead of the IHF Women’s Trophy Zonal Phase, which will be held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, that commenced yesterday to end 24th of this month.
The two teams have been training at the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Lagos, for close to two weeks and departed for the competition on Thursday.
Coach John Uzor of the national U-18 team has included Omole Joy of Defender Babes and her sister Omole Shola alongside Ojie Princess of Funad Academy alongside right back Faisat Balogun in the mix while Success Duru, Chetachi Ngaodurubie of COAS Babes and Sharon Okonkwo make the cut, amongst other players.
In the U-20 team, Coach Shittu Agboola has largely stuck with the players he has been grooming since their U-18 days. The team is led by Captain Chidera Ogbusimba alongside, her Rima Queens teammates the Samuel Sisters, Amina Mohammed and Joy Peters.
Israel-based Rahima Bello, Kehinde Babatunde of ASPAC HBC of Benin Republic and Esther Mathew, who is also based in Benin Republic, keep their places.
Coach Shittu believes his team will make Nigeria proud just as they did previously at the U-18 level.
“I am really upset that Taiwo Babatunde will not be part of the team for this competition as her school, Yaba College of Technology, insisted that they will not release her for national service because of examinations.
“We did everything humanly possible to secure her release and they didn’t care that it is a national service for the interest of Nigeria and the growth of sports. We have other players who are also students and they got a release from their schools but for no tangible reason, Yabatech refused to release Taiwo despite the fact that we did everything possible to secure her release. It’s sad and I hope the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Sports Commission will work in tandem so that schools will support our goal in making Nigeria proud in sporting events”.