Unbeatable, that was the other name for Enugu Rangers all through 1974 to the last quarter of 1975. A goalless draw with Tanzanian side, Young Africans, in Lagos meant a different thing to some  compatriots who read Civil War meanings to it.

The name Rangers came from a group of Guerillas on the Biafran side during the war. After hostilities, the Igbo lost everything. Lives, property, money and respect. That was when Chief Jerry Enyeazu came up with a football club  on February 25, 1970. Many of the young Biafran soldiers and officers were indeed good footballers.

Rangers

Some Cadets of the Nigeria Military School, Zaria grew to become officers. Boys turned men like Paul Ndimele Omeruo, Bernard Akpunonu and Hanibal Okpani Nkama did not continue with soccer. Some of the pioneer Rangers had battle field experience. They were handed over to coach Godwin Anyanwu. Later the baton was passed to Dan Anyiam, with Paulinus Nzerem and Isaac  Nnado as assistants.

The players were: Captain Godwin Achebe, Ide, Shedrack Ajaero, Nana, Cyril Okosieme, Flying Cat, John Nwosu, Wheeler, Keneth Abana, Magician, Luke Okpala, Jazzman Bucana, Mathias Obianika, Wonderboy, Chukwuma Igweonu, It’s a goal, and Godwin Adimachukwu, Alan Ball. Others included:  Dominic Nwobodo, Alhaji, Nwabueze Nwankwo, Bulldozer, Sam Nwachukwu, Onyembi, Peter Okeke, General Gason, Teddy Anikputa, Ajiobi, Emmanuel Okala, OAU, Ernest Ufele, Emma Ojirika, Godwin Nwosa, Sam Okoh, Emeka Okonkwo, Patrick Ozuah and Ray Ohaeri.

In the next one year, Rangers restored Igbo pride. They won the informal National League known as the Amachree cup, lost in the grand finale of the challenge cup to WNDC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, no thanks  to Amusa Adisa who stopped Achebe’s penalty, and got to the quarter-finals of the CAF Champions League.

The East Central State Academicals, captained by Godwin Ogbueze, won the Adebajo cup after beating Midwestern State. Some prominent members of the victorious team were Christian Chukwu, Dominic Ezeani, Damian Odo, Chike Ikebuaku, Johnny Azinge  Keneth Ilodigwe and Patrick Ekeji who all would join the Flying Antelopes later. Ekeji could not make the Biafra Airforce but joined Army Signals later.

So from day one, some Nigerians saw Rangers as another Biafra that must be vanquished. That did not happen and the team really dealt with Nigeria Army clubs. The name itself hurt Nigerian soldiers. Major Ibrahim Babangida’s 44 Battalion, Umuahia was also known as Rangers.

To lift the Amachree Cup, the Coal City Boys trounced an All Army team. In their international debut, they defeated Secteur Six of Niger Republic, an Army team. In the 1972 formal league, Rangers hammered military side Octopus of Port Harcourt 5-1 in the Garden City. The soldiers did not bother to go for the Enugu leg.

Even General Gowon had summoned Enyeazu to Lagos in 1970  for choosing  May 27 to pitch Rangers against Vipers of Benin. And to be fair to Gowon he accepted explanation that it was mere coincidence. Two years later, he  made Enyeazu pioneer Director of the National Sports Commission  (NSC ).

On May 10, 1975, Rangers were forced to a barren draw by Young Africans (Yanga) in the Second Round of the CAF Champions League at the National Stadium, Lagos. That was the day hell was let loose. Some Nigerian spectators pounced on the home team. Left winger, James Ogidinma Ibeabuchi,was almost killed in the process.

The sore point was that Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s Tanzania was the first country to recognise Biafra, on April 13, 1968. Keneth Kaunda’s Zambia followed on April 15, then  Felix Houphet Boigny’s Cote D’Ivoire and Albert  Bongo’s Gabon. The strange belief was that Rangers did not want to win the match.

Well Rangers had not lost a game in 18 months. In the 1974 league of eight teams, they  earned 25 points from 14 matches. Eight wins, three draws, no loss, 21 goals for and three against. Lagos NEPA were runners-up  Shooting, third and Vasco fourth. Bendel, Stores, Asabatex and Darma United, Kano followed. After beating Shooting at Ibadan, Supporters club chairman, A.A. Amaugo, almost lost an ear following attack by the losing fans.

Rangers became Nigeria’s first double champions in 1974, a feat repeated in 1975. They messed up Army teams as well either Lagos Garrison Organisation  (LGO) of Paul Hamilton, Keneth Olayombo, Lawal Rigogo, Ifeanyi John and Abass Olawoyin or Super Two of Eyo  Essien, Segun Olumodeji, Tetteh Okonkwo, Kingsford Yeboah, Owusu Agyeman and Peter Obi.

Before confronting Yanga, the Flying Antelopes had humiliated Accra Great Olympics 2-0 in Ghana with Alex Nwosu and Abana scoring to stun crack players like Awule  Quaye, Christian Madu, Joe Amartey and the duo of Obley and Sabban Hammond. In the Lagos return leg Rangers won again, 2-1. Again Nwosu and Abana netted goals.

Some rabid spectators could not accept the draw with the Tanzanians. On May 27, 1975, Rangers did not find it easy at away. They got a 1-1 draw,courtesy Alex Nwosu and advanced on away goals rule to face Zambian Army squad, Green Buffaloes, led by hard tackling libero, Dick Chama.

Rangers were almost losing 2-1 after Stanley (Englishman ) Okoronkwo’s goal until Ogidi hit a last minute leveller. Some members of the Copperbelt team won silver at the Egypt’74 Nations Cup and were more experienced than the Nigerians. In the Lagos leg, the hosts won 2-1 to romp into the semis. Zambia, like Tanzania recognised Biafra during the crisis.

Enugu Rangers lost home and away to Hafia of Guinea in the 1975 CAF Champions League finals. Many blamed the NFA for the loss. That was not completely true. According to P.O.C. Achebe, Rangers  lost to their officials who refused to travel to Lagos until 10pm the day to the grand finale. They were therefore  not mentally and physically strong to cancel the 1-0 first leg outcome.

Hafia were champions in 1972 and had great players like Petit Sory, Papa Camara,  Aliou Keita  (Njo Lea ) and Jacob Bangoura. Obianika got the first goal, then Rangers ran out of gas to concede two goals. Ilodigwe threw his jersey away as he walked away. Dan Anyiam refused to substitute a striker who was imposed on him even when the player was begging to be pulled out.