By Amaechi Agbo

2016 champions, Rangers International FC of Enugu will play their 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier League, NPL home matches in their home stadium, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, NAS, www.bestchoicesports.com.ng has been authoritatively told.

The playing turf of the stadium and its track has been under renovation since October 2021 forcing Rangers to play their home matches in the league in the past two season in Awka City Stadium in Anambra State.

Despite assurances by the the Enugu State Government under Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi that the renovation work would be completed on time, the project was left unfinished before the Governor left office on May 29 and was inherited by the new Governor of the state, His Excellency, Peter Ndubisi Mbah.

With the league scheduled to start on Saturday, August 26, 2023, stakeholders, fans, journalists and lovers of the seven-time league champions are worried that none completion of the renovation work this term would, once again, hamper Rangers’ quest to win the league.

“Rangers will play at home this season,” an insider who is in the know of the project, told our correspondent in Enugu on Thursday morning.

When asked how soon the renovation would be completed, the source who asked not to be named, said “Take my words for it, Rangers will play their home matches in Enugu this season.

“His Excellency, who is a lover and supporter of Rangers since childhood, have given a green light for the completion of the project.

“I am giving you assurance that Rangers will return to Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium this season,” the source said.

For the past two seasons, Ranger struggled in the league ending 2021/2022 season 5th on the log. They narrowly escaped relegation on the last day of the 2022/2023 abridged league as they ended 7th in Group B with two points above the danger zone.

New Rangers’ Technical Adviser, Fidelis Ilechukwu had made a passionate appeal to the Enugu State Government to bring back the team to Enugu adding that such would aid the team’s quest to reclaim the league title they last won seven years ago.

“We need to sit down and find a way out. We also have to look into bringing the team back to Enugu. So many things will play if you want to win the league.

“Playing in Enugu, I will beg his Excellency. I will do everything to meet him one-on-one. Beg him to do all he can to make sure we bring the team back to Enugu State because fans are 12th man on the pitch and there is importance of it”.

The draw for the 2023/2024 NPL season will hold on Thursday next week in Abuja