Forty-eight years after their victory in the African Cup Winners Cup competition, Enugu Rangers players were made to smile once again on Wednesday by the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which redeemed the shortfall in the cash reward to players for making the country proud.
Rangers International defeated Cameroon’s Canon Sportif by 5-2 in 1977 to keep the trophy won by IICC Shooting Stars the previous year. An uproar had greeted the federal government’s inability to pay the 19 Rangers players the same N50,000 it paid to the IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan when it won the trophy in 1976. The federal government had instead paid N25,000 to the Rangers players.
Ndigbo felt bad at the value depreciation instead of appreciation of the monetary value of the trophy. They agitated, complained but the situation was not remedied by the federal government.
But on Wednesday in Enugu, Ndigbo, through the Ohaneze, declared that they have not forgotten the football club that rejuvenated their spirit after their defeat in the Nigeria -Biafra war. They gave the ex-footballers N1 million each.
Among the ex-Rangers FC playersRangers FC players, who confirmed receipt of the money in a ceremony at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Secretariat in Enugu, were former goalkeeper, Emmanuel Okala, former Rangers Skipper, Dominic Nwobodo and some others, who could not attend the ceremony.
Some of the late ex-players, including Christian Chukwu, were represented by their wives, children or relatives. Speaking at the ceremony, the President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta Mbata, said that if the federal government had forgotten the injustice, the Igbo would never forget.
“This is a typical Nigeria thing. This is a pledge made by the federal government but it is Ohanaeze Ndigbo that is redeeming the pledge today. This is to further show how Igbo affairs are not of interest to Nigeria. One who is rejected does not reject himself.
“Rangers International Football Club of Nigeria, immediately after the civil war, when America and Britain collaborated and defeated the Igbo in the war, at that lowest ebb of Ndigbo after their defeat, rose up as a beacon of light, as beacon of strength, hope and as a beacon of resurgence at that ebb of the Igbo history.
“They won the continental cup and the government made a promise to give them N25,000 each. That promise was never redeemed. Since the government has refused to redeem it, the Igbo people will redeem it. Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide as an organisation watching out for the interest of people all over the world is standing in today to redeem that pledge.
“Let it be heard all over the world that the Igbo will never forget Rangers. All those people who fought gallantly, who played for Rangers, whether dead or alive, Ohanaeze will honour them today. That is why we have gathered them here. Out of 19 of them that played, eight of them are still alive, while 11 of them are demised. Whether they are dead or alive, Ohanaeze will remember them. The labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain and so it shall be for Rangers players,” Mbata prayed.
Responding, ex-goal keeper, Emmanuel Okala said it was a great thing that he was still alive to witness the fulfillment, pledging that they will utilize the money in their medical up keeps.
“Since 1977, some of our people are dead, it was N25,000 and now it has been made manifest,” Okala appreciated. He stated that they have an ex-Rangers group, which has kept them united, adding that they are planning remembrance of their lost colleagues such as Coach Christian Chukwu, whom he wished was alive to witness the fulfillment. Mrs Amaka Abana, wife of late Kenneth Abana, and the late Harrison Nmecha’s wife, Mrs Caroline Mmecha, all praised the idea behind the gesture.
