Victor Eduoh
I wasn't born, infact my parents weren't married yet, more than 90% of the current squad weren't born, Imama Amapakabo was just 15years old
the last time Enugu state witnessed this kind of rave in anticipation for a league title.
That was a whooping 32years ago. The presence of the internet through the various social media platforms, ease of
communication through the many available mediums available to us can
easily enable someone in any part of the world see the massive followership the entirety of Enugu state are giving to the Flying Antelopes.
The support has been a true definition of massive - a truly 12th man, infact a 13th man on the pitch whenever Enugu Rangers Int'l FC has played this season.
Fast rewind 32years ago, Nigerians where crazy for their local football, it was bigger than what it is now. When Rangers won their last league title in 1984, they were coached by Polish Janusz Kowalik who had succeeded Brazilian Roberto Diaz. When Kowalik left as coach of the Flying Antelopes, he was succeeded by Serbian Kosta Papic - a succession of three foreign coaches.
History shows these weren't left over coaches - they were good. In 1984, there wasn't internet in Nigeria, league matches weren't on TV, there were no mobile phones to easily communicate; yet there was a rave so great to attract good foreign coaches to our domestic topflight.
I wasn't there to witness how big our topflight was but I definitely feel it from the joyful echoes emanating as Rangers closes in on breaking their 32year jinx. The bad and ugly they say always accompany the good, it is obvious that the deterioration and lack of interest in
our local football scene means the bad and ugly did actually overtake
the good.
Going through documented history available to me, Janusz Kowalik was coach of Enugu Rangers between 1983-1984, the next documented year they had a coach was in 2008 when Okey Emordi took charge. So I wonder, if there was a record as at 1984, why not any between then and 2008? Our league witnessed a downturn - a great loss.
If an ardent fan of the Flying Antelopes laid to rest a year after celebrating their 1984 league triumph was ressurrected today, he'd think nothing has changed - after all, the same person is still the
commander-in-chief of the Nigerian federal armed forces.
For me who grew up initially having interest in the available - foreign club
football, not just has alot changed for the better, it is almost like a new league is given birth to. I refuse to identify the bad nor the ugly because I'm happily overwhelmed by the good - The League
Management Company led by Mallam Shehu Dikko and all those who have
fought to restore the glory days of our topflight.
So, as Rangers closes in on their title, one which is now there's to lose, their victory in waiting has not just been theirs but that of the Nigerian topflight as a whole. That rave, that massive support and a host of 'good,' is gradually coming back to stay.
Last season's matchday attendance averaged 8000 fans - a number which is sure to increase this season; there has been an impressive Friday night
football - something the EPL, the acclaimed world's best league just
started after we did; there have been reputable partnerships for the league, most notably the LaLiga and Star Lager partnerships respectively; there are currently foreign coaches and a host of
foreign players plying their trade in the league.
Just like it seems that the last time Enugu Rangers won the league
title there was so much interest in the league, we hope that as they
draw close to victory again, the glory days of the league will be
re-born. A victory that we thirst for.
I wasn't born, infact my parents weren't married yet, more than 90% of the current squad weren't born, Imama Amapakabo was just 15years old
the last time Enugu state witnessed this kind of rave in anticipation for a league title.
 |
| Photo credit @LMCNPFL |
That was a whooping 32years ago. The presence of the internet through the various social media platforms, ease of
communication through the many available mediums available to us can
easily enable someone in any part of the world see the massive followership the entirety of Enugu state are giving to the Flying Antelopes.
The support has been a true definition of massive - a truly 12th man, infact a 13th man on the pitch whenever Enugu Rangers Int'l FC has played this season.
Fast rewind 32years ago, Nigerians where crazy for their local football, it was bigger than what it is now. When Rangers won their last league title in 1984, they were coached by Polish Janusz Kowalik who had succeeded Brazilian Roberto Diaz. When Kowalik left as coach of the Flying Antelopes, he was succeeded by Serbian Kosta Papic - a succession of three foreign coaches.
History shows these weren't left over coaches - they were good. In 1984, there wasn't internet in Nigeria, league matches weren't on TV, there were no mobile phones to easily communicate; yet there was a rave so great to attract good foreign coaches to our domestic topflight.
I wasn't there to witness how big our topflight was but I definitely feel it from the joyful echoes emanating as Rangers closes in on breaking their 32year jinx. The bad and ugly they say always accompany the good, it is obvious that the deterioration and lack of interest in
our local football scene means the bad and ugly did actually overtake
the good.
Going through documented history available to me, Janusz Kowalik was coach of Enugu Rangers between 1983-1984, the next documented year they had a coach was in 2008 when Okey Emordi took charge. So I wonder, if there was a record as at 1984, why not any between then and 2008? Our league witnessed a downturn - a great loss.
If an ardent fan of the Flying Antelopes laid to rest a year after celebrating their 1984 league triumph was ressurrected today, he'd think nothing has changed - after all, the same person is still the
commander-in-chief of the Nigerian federal armed forces.
For me who grew up initially having interest in the available - foreign club
football, not just has alot changed for the better, it is almost like a new league is given birth to. I refuse to identify the bad nor the ugly because I'm happily overwhelmed by the good - The League
Management Company led by Mallam Shehu Dikko and all those who have
fought to restore the glory days of our topflight.
So, as Rangers closes in on their title, one which is now there's to lose, their victory in waiting has not just been theirs but that of the Nigerian topflight as a whole. That rave, that massive support and a host of 'good,' is gradually coming back to stay.
Last season's matchday attendance averaged 8000 fans - a number which is sure to increase this season; there has been an impressive Friday night
football - something the EPL, the acclaimed world's best league just
started after we did; there have been reputable partnerships for the league, most notably the LaLiga and Star Lager partnerships respectively; there are currently foreign coaches and a host of
foreign players plying their trade in the league.
Just like it seems that the last time Enugu Rangers won the league
title there was so much interest in the league, we hope that as they
draw close to victory again, the glory days of the league will be
re-born. A victory that we thirst for.
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