By Adebayo Abubakar
The Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu-Ejidike (JP) has congratulated the players, staff, and Management of the newly crowned champions of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), Rangers International FC of Enugu, over their triumph in the just-concluded 2023/24 NPFL season.
The congratulatory message was contained in a press release, signed by the Chairman Office of the Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports, Prince Ajide Olayioye, and made available to news men in Ilorin today, Monday.
The former President of the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN) describes the overall performance of the Flying Antelopes throughout the season as gritty, saying that it takes having the mentality of a champion like Rangers, to last the (marathon) race, in a very rugged and competitive league like the NPFL.
Agu-Ejidike who doubles as the Patron of the Nigerian Football Supporters’ Club (NFSC) also commends the executive Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency Peter Mbah, for what he describes as unwavering supports from his government to the club, which according to the Pillar of Sports, is a demonstration of the Governor’s commitment to Sports development in the State.
The Anambra-born Sports philanthropist therefore charges the team’s and its technical crew to go all out in the coming season and not only defend the title, but also win the CAF Champions league, where they will be one of the country’s representatives.
The coach Fidelis Illechukwu-tutored side won the league with a match to spare, when they defeated Bendel Insurance FC of Benin City, 2-0 on the match-day 37 at The Cathedral, and then rounded their fantastic season up with an away victory in far away Gombe, against Gombe United FC who, unfortunately, got relegated to the NNL. Rangers International last won the league title in 2016, after 32 years of waiting, having the last one in 1984.
The Nnewi-born business mogul also commended the organisers of the league, the Interim Management Committee (IMC), for a job well done, as they were able to run all the fixture, and rounded it up in good time that would ensure that Nigeria’s league calendar becomes aligned with most of other advance leagues in the world, especially Europe, where they run June-to-May season calendar.
