By Jacob Ajom

The stage is set. History is about to be re-written in Enugu, east central Nigeria. Although I am not a clairvoyant, with my knowledge of football, particularly, the Nigerian football scene, I can safely say that Enugu will ‘quake’ tonight as the iconic Rangers International Football Club will be crowned kings of Nigerian football — for the first time in 32 years.

The city will erupt and bars will be full. There will be revelry and rapturous scenes on the streets. The feeling of failure will give way to that of accomplishment and fulfilled dreams. The victory party will know no religion, no age and no class.

Rangers have El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri as the hurdle in their way to victory. The Coal City outfit, as Rangers are also known, need a draw to achieve the Nigeria league title that has eluded them all this while. At the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, the home of Rangers, the task is achievable. Already expectations are high.

Rangers is not just a football club. It represents the identity of the Igbo race. As a fallout from the acrimonious Nigeria civil war, Rangers, as a Football Club championed the socio-economic and cultural reintegration of the Igbos into the geographical expression called Nigeria. From the shackles of a defeated army arose what later became a symbol of hope, an epitome of determination, doggedness and a channel of expression for a people — a mass movement.

The emergence of Rangers soon after the civil war threw up new challenges and reshaped the sporting landscape of the country. They won everything there was to be won and annexed the Nigeria football league and the Challenge Cup. The club became so popular that an average football fan could reel out names of the players with ease.

In our secondary school days, my friend, Julius Olom, now an insurance guru, exhibited early potential in football commentary. Olom had a small radio set that was only put on when there was a football match. mostly when the Green Eagles, Rangers or IICC Shooting Stars(now 3SC) were playing. The inimitable Ernest Okonkwo, of blessed memory would be behind the microphone and dominate the airwaves before, during and after the match.

Although he had contemporaries in Sebastian Ofurum and Ishola Folorunsho, who were equally good, Ernest was by far the most accomplished. He played a major role in popularizing Rangers as some of us in the rural areas would never have known a club like that existed as there were no newspapers or television sets. It was Ernest, my friend Olom woul mimick.

And he did it to our great satisfaction. Names like the great Dominic Nwobodo, Christian Madu, Dr Jonny Igbonu, Christian Chukwu, Emmanuel Okala, Sylvanus Okpala, Adokiye Amiesimaka, Stanley Okoronkwo, Alloysius Atuegbu and a lot more I cannot remember were made popular in our school by our friend who could run dry commentary even without a match going on. He was that imaginative and it showed the influence of Rangers on young Nigerian football fans.

The club’s all white apparel symbolized peace. And this reflected in their style of play. Always ahead of others, Rangers had fans but a particular supporter distinguished himself from the rest.

He was called Man Mountain because of his height; others called him ‘Madam Rangers’ because he moved in his colourful regalia with a feminine gait. Hundreds paid to attend Rangers matches because of him. He travelled the length and breadth of this country with the team. His presence in Rangers make-up ignited the emergence of football supporters clubs across the country.

All this collapsed in a gradual retrogression that saw the club without a silverware in 32 years.

The coming of Enugu Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi ushered in a new breath to the club as exemplified by their performance in the concluding season. He settled players’ outstanding salaries and bonus arreas. Rangers remained consistent and hovered around the first three positions in the log all through the season.

That they will emerge champions today would not come as a surprise to any follower of the Nigeria Professional Football League. The only surprise is if they fail to lift it. And that would be a miracle.

Today, however, a new song will be sang, sound of trumpets will blare high in and around Enugu and the airwaves will be dominated with Rangers anthem: Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Enugu Rangers is another champion.

Enugu will implode with a bang!