By Onochie Anibeze

Ex Rangers players have not relented in their drive to remain not only united but also progressive in football and welfare matters.

Rangers are the only Nigerian club whose ex players operate a social system that sees them holding conventions and other social engagements in the United States and other places.

Rangers

They have a solid patron in Sir Benson Ejindu who sponsors most of their events in USA. Many of the ex Rangers players reside in USA where many had gone to study on scholarship. Donald Igwebuike is their spokesman in USA. Rangers run a social union and uppermost in their agenda is the welfare of the retired players.

When a member is bereaved they attend the funeral as a team. And when it is celebration time like in weddings and other social events involving their members they also attend as a team. And when on October 2 they had a chance to win the league after 32 years many of them came from afar to be part of history at the Enugu stadium that will host international matches next season.

Winning the league again has ensured greater unity in them. And now they want to establish a Hall Of Fame. They want to site this in their dream Rangers Estate. They are banking on the governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to achieve these lofty dreams.

“It will be great for the government to carve out part of Enugu and name it Rangers Estate,” Christian Chukwu said of the new plans by the Ex Rangers body. Dr. Johny Egbonu was with him and confirmed their plan to appeal to the governor to allocate land for Rangers Estate in Enugu.

If such land is made available, ex Rangers players could be allocated plots of land at affordable rates. Streets in the Estate will be named after great players of Rangers. Members of the public could also be allocated plots of land to buy. It will be a normal estate. It is in this estate Chukwu said they hope to gather resources to build their Hall of Fame.

“We have considered the possibilities and we know it is achievable. We will make representations to the governor who has done a lot for Rangers within the short time he has served as governor. We won the league again under him and we hope that there will be more victories to make our people happy and also boost the business of sports in the east,” Chukwu said.

Rangers mean more than a football club to Easterners. They were formed immediately after the civil war and it was one of the tools the Igbo used in the process of reintegration. And the resounding victories in their early years made the Igbo proud. Rangers symbolised a movement and the Easterners reveled in it.

“There’s always an attachment you can’t describe if you have played for the club,” David Ngodigha, an Olympic bronze medallist said.

“When you wear the Rangers jersey there’s a great feeling. I’m happy that they won the league again,” Ngodigha said. He said he particularly feels special because all the other clubs he played for are now defunct. Only Rangers are still on and doing well. Sharks, Bendel United, BCC, Flash have all gone under.

“I played for many clubs but I have always being referred to as David Ngodigha of Rangers as if they knew out of all of them Rangers would be the only surviving club many years on.”

Ngodigha also excelled as Super Eagles goal tender. He showed his class in the training of the team that won Nigeria’s only medal at the Rio Olympics.