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By Amaechi Agbo

Supporters Club of Nigeria Premier Football League NPFL side, Rangers International FC of Enugu will on Wednesday Contractor Assures Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Will Be Ready In February on a peaceful protest within the state’s metropolis, www.bestchoicesports.com.ng can report

According to the chairman of Enugu Rangers Supporters Club, Dr Orji Iloakazi Uchenna who disclosed this to newsmen in Enugu, he said the protest is the fans’ way of registering their anger against none completion of the renovation works at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, home of Rangers International FC as well as poor performances of the club in the current league campaign.

Rangers adopted the Awka City Stadium in Anambra State as their home ground but results this campaign have not been positive.
“We had stakeholders meeting during the week and we took a decision to embark on a peaceful protest on Wednesday 25 January, 2023. To let the government know that we are not happy that Rangers are not playing at home. It was the decision taken.

“Nobody plays away from home and be happy. In fact some people (clubs) are being banished away from home as punishment. So playing away from home is punishment for us.

“Even the supporters that travel and come back by nights are not comfortable with it. We leave the stadium as early as 10 o’clock in the morning and come back in the night, nobody is comfortable at all.

“I know we have a good team and we are playing to the best of our ability, playing away from home is a disadvantage, whether we like it or not. Players are not comfortable playing in Awka. I have interacted with some of the players they are not comfortable (playing in Awka)

“Anything you can do to bring back the team to Enugu, please do not delay further,” he told the commissioner for youth and sports, Honourable Manfred Nzekwe during a media parley in Enugu on Saturday

Responding, the commissioner thanked the press , Supporters Club and the good people of Enugu State for their concerns and support to the team but appealed that the stadium renovation work will be concluded soon.

“I want to thank the press, chairman, Supporters Club and all the supporters of Rangers and the good people of Enugu State for their patience as it concerns this pitch. It is something that bothers me much.

“But I am appealing, even those that are going to go on peaceful protest, I wouldn’t mind to come and follow them because I feel the way they feel. But I assure you that government is not sleeping.”

Rangers International FC are playing their second consecutive season home matches in Awka, Anambra State. The club under Abdul Maikaba is yet to win a match after matchday 3.

They lost 2-0 against Abịa Warriors in their opening match, lost their second match 1-0 against Lobi Stars in Jos on Wednesday and played a 1-1 draw against Sunshine Stars in Akwa on Sunday.

The Enugu State Government last week issued a two-match ultimatum to the technical crew led by Abdul Maikaba.

Should the protest go on, 8t would be second time the supporters are embarking on protest under the leadership of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi after they organised solar protest in 2015.