Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Supporters of the Rangers International Football Club of Enugu have called on the State Government to facilitate the immediate return of the club back to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
Iloakasi Orji, Chairman of the supporters club, made its position known recently, while addressing newsmen, during a peaceful protest at the stadium also called “the cathedral.”
“Our demand is that Rangers should come back to prosecute their home matches and not playing their home matches at Awka, away from home.
“Playing at Awka is dangerous to the club and does not speak well for the club and this is the first time in history that the club is playing home matches away from home for two seasons.
“This is unacceptable to us and that is why we are calling on the governor to do something before the club will be relegated for the first time,” Orji said.
The supporters club chairman said it was high time Rangers returned back home.
He lamented that the club was not doing well because they are playing away from home.
“Rangers need to come back home because, there is no place like home and also the club need to have a new Team Manager and General Manager.
“Whatever that is affecting the stadium should be taken care off, because I know that the governor can finish the ongoing renovation of the stadium in a month’s time.
“The most important of all is that we want Rangers to play their home match at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium this season,” he said.
Orji appealed to the government not to listen to those advising that the club is comfortable with playing its home matches in Awka.
The chairman noted that there was no place like home adding that the club playing its home match at ‘foreign land’ always makes things difficult for the team and its supporters.
Orji said the supporters club management was not been carried along in matters relating to logistics and others for both the home and away matches.
He called on the state government to fill in the noticeable gaps in the club technical crew and managerial position.
“As I speak now, Rangers do not have a Team Manager since Amobi Ezeaku left the club and the post of General Manager still needs adjustment,” Orji said.
