NAH-S-5
Players
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Abakaliki, Oct. 4, 2016 (NAN) Former players of Rangers International FC of Enugu have pledged to assist the club to succeed in next season’s CAF Champions League campaign.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Rangers beat El-Kanemi of Maiduguri 4-0 on Sunday to win the Nigeria Professional Football League diadem since 1984, when they won the trophy last.
The ex-players in separate interviews with NAN on Tuesday in Abakaliki, said they would offer technical assistance to the team to ensure the club retained the league trophy.
According to them, the gesture will boost the effort of the club to win next season’s CAF champions league competition.
Vincent Okpalaka, a defender who played for the club between 1993 and 1998, said the ex-players in their monthly forum, had resolved to assist the club to achieve domestic and continental successes.
The player, popularly called ‘Amani’ in his heydays, added that the ex-players might not offer monetary assistance, due to prevailing economic challenges but would readily offer technical input, if needed.
“Retaining the league title and winning a continental trophy evoke additional pressure on teams and we have the needed experience of having played in the continent with the team,” he said.
Edmund Ndukanma, another defender, who played for the club between 1990 and 2000, hailed the players for breaking the jinx, noting that they had written their names in the history of the club.
Ndukanamma, popularly called ‘Udo-(Elastic rope) in his playing days, said that the former players might not be the best individually but were the best in terms of team cohesion since 1984.
“Most of us are still part of the team as our leader Christian Chukwu is the team’s technical director.
“I will be doing my coaching course attachment with the club for three months, among other ex-players,” he said.
Phinan Ozonweke, who played for the club between 1991 and 1997 and captained the club between1995 and 1997, advised the team’s technical crew to retain the bulk of the current players and fortify areas of weakness.
The player, called “Ishawuru” during his hey days said that the ex-players could be involved in the team’s preparations for next season, to ensure that the continuity mantra was sustained.
“We also plead with the government and other club’s benefactors to remember us in this period of reward because we contributed toward its stability.” he said. (NAN)
RCO/DUA/SN
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(Edited by Dada Ahmed, controlled by Silas Nwoha)