₦airaland Forum

Pidgin2:
And what do you bring to the table?

my sis your question ought to be "what should a woman look for in a min?" Remember my statement is to encourage guys on what to look for in a woman before marriage.
Now to the quoted question, 3 things also should be what a man should have to be good.
(1) he has to be good in bed- so as to reduce infidelity in marriage.
(2) he has to be humble and intelligent- humbleness and intelligence will make he see opportunity in things around him be it work, business, family and friends.
(3) hardworking- i guess you know where hardworking can led one to.

For the past 5 years that i have been married and still counting i will say 3 things is what will make a woman GOOD
(1) she must be a good cook
(2) she must be good in bed
(3) she must be submissive and respectful to people.
Any lady who have it is lucky and any man who finds such woman is the luckiest of all.

I can bet it that who ever they pick will lose. By the way can they predict match scores on nairabet for boys?

robonski15:
You can get a tow collapsible tanks for a start.. do you have access to regular water supply?

yes yes I do. I Have a borehole on the land. Like how much is the tank that can accomodate 1000 fishes?

robonski15:
Hello sir, what type of pond do you intend to use?

for a start i want to use the tapolin or plastic. The better type.

hugoranking:
See d name sef, D guy no gho concentrate 4 ball wey e neva sabi play, see e mumu hair-style sef mstcheeeew!!!

Why don't you encourage the local lads? Do you think these local boys are poor in nigeria standard? The lowest paying team in nigeria pays 250k minus bonus every month. This daniel was a regular in enyimba until last season when he was frequent in siasia olympic team. Unfortunately he became second choice in enyimba when players like osadiaye, chukwude and ebenebu came in. I beg show some love to the guys because rome was not built in a day.

w1sEmAn:
what has football pitch got 2 do wit propotion na?see as d girl dry sef n d guy hw much nigia league d pay u wey u de pro woman?

as a die hard fan of enyimba and friend of daniel etor i can tell you that his annual take home is #11.4m. How much is the annual take home of a branch Manager of bank?

robonski15:
Good job sir, you can do better on water management..

bro i have been following your update for a while. Please i want to know the minimum amount i can use to start a catfish farm of 1000 fishes for a start? Note i have a virgin land. Thanks

Kingsasian:
In Jesus's time, there was an instance where his disciples prevented some people from coming to him e.g when his disciples were preventing those parents from bringing their kids to him etc.

Stop quoting what u don't know. Was it jesus who asked his disciples to protect him? What jesus response when he saw that his disciples were blocking children and people from seeing him? Can our pastors eat with tax collectors (porpularly called agbero)? Just as jesus eat with nickodemus the tax collector.

kernel504:
What a nation! How can the national assembly oversight over the spending of a state, when there is a state assembly?

Buhari, will grind the economy of Nigeria to a halt with all these impunity.

is the money a lone or grant? If it's a grant then either constitution or not the spending must be followed. Was the bailout constitutional? From which account is bailout fund coming from? Federation account or contingency account?

ShinnBet:
This is a fat lie and obviously another avenue to get govt subsidy to buy non existing rice for storage.

China with larger landmass a with rice as a staple food does not even smell that rubbish you guys are circulating.

Abi una sabi farm rice pass China?

You be olodo oooo. From the table you showed china leads the world as the highest producer of rice by producting 134 million Metric tonne, while Nigeria is just a million Metric tonne. So please reason before you embarrass yourself in Public

More

Enugu rangers player Ifeanyi Egwim who was injured on the final day of the Nigeria Professional Football League game against El Kanemi Warriors at the cathedral in Enugu has had a successful operation on his leg and so he has started walking on clutches.

Watch out!!!

Very realisable. We will get there

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has commenced plans to broadcast
live matches on British television, I can report exclusively.
League Management Committee (LMC) chairman Alhaji Shehu Dikko made this
disclosure over the weekend from London where he had gone to open discussions on
what would be an unprecedented project in Nigerian football history. If things go
according to plan, Nigerians living in the United Kingdom will soon be able to watch
Shooting Stars versus Enugu Rangers and Enyimba International versus Kano Pilllars
from the comfort of their living rooms.
"We have opened talks with some television networks in the United Kingdom to
broadcast live Nigeria football league matches on their platforms," Dikko told me
exclusively over the telephone from London last Saturday, before reconfirming the story
on Monday on his return to Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
"Nothing has been concluded as I speak to you, Mumini, but I am confident that
between BT Sport and Sky TV, we will have a partner showing the Nigerian football
league to the U.K. audience in the not-too-distant future. AIT (African Independent
Television owned by Nigerian businessman Raymond Dokpesi) have also shown interest
through their London office. Obviously, our final decision will influenced by what is best
for our league and our club sides."
Dikko is relying on the huge Nigerian audience in the U.K. to make a commercial
success of this venture. "A lot of Nigerians in the U.K. are football fans who are willing
to pay to watch matches of their local Nigerian club sides," he says with optimism.
"Actually, they have been asking us for this, at least I can speak for a lot of my friends
out there. The plan is to secure a channel on any of the networks that I've mentioned,
put our league matches on it and charge affordable pay-per-view rates.
"The channel will be pay-per-view because it will not broadcast round the clock 24/7
like mainstream television channels. It will only broadcast when there are matches to
be shown. If we charge half a pound or one pound per game and we get like 5,000 to
10,000 regular subscribers to the service, that will come to a tidy sum of money on a
weekly basis. At these times when foreign exchange is a big issue in Nigeria, that
would be a critical revenue source for the NPFL."
The primary content of the proposed channel will be Nigerian football league matches
but other relevant content may be featured as well. "We can put Super Eagles or other
national team games on the channel when they come up," Dikko says. "We can also
ask our local broadcast partners, DSTV SuperSport to put some of their local league
programmes like "Naija Made" on the channel. Furthermore, we plan to do live
streaming of the league matches so that if some people choose not to watch on
television, they can watch via the internet either on their desktop or mobile devices."
The LMC will be working with international media consultants to handle the discussions
with the British television networks. Former SuperSport Head of Africa and founder of
London-based Sports News Africa, South African-born Gary Rathbone, and the director
of sport and corporate affairs for Ben TV in London, British-Nigerian Chris Chinedu
Obukwelu, will act as project advisors to the LMC, says Dikko.
Dikko who took over as chairman of the LMC in 2014 after serving as deputy to the
erstwhile chairman Nduka Irabor, has been a central figure in the remarkable
improvements seen in the country's football league in recent years. He introduced
several legal, management, technical and structural reforms that have impacted
positively on the league. If he pulls off this latest move to put the Nigerian league on
British television, his legacy would be secured.
"We have been lamenting for many years now that foreign football leagues, especially
the English Premier League, have taken over Nigerian television," Dikko says.
"Obviously, we can't drive them out of our territory again because the world is now a
global village, so we might as well also take our product into their own territory.
"After securing broadcast partners for the Nigeria League in the United Kingdom, our
next step will be to look for partners in the United States and the Far East. We know
that we have audiences in these places because Nigerians travel far and wide but still
want to stay connected with everything happening back home including the football.
We will pull this off, Insha Allah (By God's grace)."

*THE MASS AND THE SCRIPTURES*

Introduction

When people say that the Mass is unscriptural and that Catholics are committing an abomination, I simply laugh in Japanese (don’t ask me how that is done!). I laugh because it is not only wrong but even that statement does not anticipate the kind of response that any knowledgeable Catholic would give.

To put it nicely, the Mass is the only place where we read more passages at a time! Call you best prayer warrior, ask Him (or her) to pray for 24 hours and quote as many scripture passages as they can possibly remember and they still wouldn’t have quoted more passages than a simple Catholic who “casually” goes for Mass on a weekday. The following is a simple structure of the Mass and the scriptural references to what the priest and the congregation says.

Mass 2:

INTRODUCTORY RITES

The Entrance procession occasioned by the Ringing of the Bell (Exod 28:33-35)

Sign of the Cross:

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt 28:19; cf. John 14:13-14; Acts 2:21)

Liturgical Greeting:

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Cor 13:14)

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:2; Eph 1:2)

“The Lord be with you.” (2 Tim 4:22; cf. Matt 1:23; 28:20)

People’s Response:

“And with your spirit” (cf. Gal 6:18; 2 Tim 4:22)

Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling Holy Water (see Ezek 36:25; cf. Num 8:7a)

Penitential Act:

Intro: “Let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.” (cf. Ps 51:5)

“I confess to almighty God…” (cf. Lev 5:5; Neh 1:5-9; Dan 9:3-19; James 5:16)

“Have mercy on us, O Lord. / For we have sinned against you. / Show us, O Lord, your mercy. / And grant us your salvation.” (Ps 41:4)

“Lord, Have Mercy” (Matt 15:22; 17:15; 20:30-31; cf. Ps 123:3)

Gloria:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will” (Luke 2:14; cf. Rev 4:11; 5:11-14)

“We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you…” (Cf. Ps 148:13)

“Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son” (cf. Ps 2:7; John 1:14)

“Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world…” (cf. John 1:29)

Prayers concluded by “Amen” (Neh 8:6; Ps 41:13; Rom 16:27; Heb 13:20-21; Rev 7:16)

LITURGY OF THE WORD

Introductory/Concluding Dialogues

“A reading from the book/letter of…”

“The Word of the Lord” (1 Peter 1:25) – “Thanks be to God” (Rom 6:17; 2 Cor 9:15)

Acclamations before the Gospel:

“Alleluia” (many Psalms, esp. Ps 146-150; Rev 19:1-6)

“Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!” (cf. Ps 24:7-10; 1 Thess 2:12; 2 Tim 4:18)

“Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Christ!” (cf. Dan 4:34, 37; 1 Peter 1:7)

“Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!” (cf. Phil 1:11)

“A reading from the holy Gospel according to…” – “Glory to you, O Lord”

“The Gospel of the Lord” (Rom 16:25; Mark 1:1) – “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ”

Profession of Faith

“I believe…” (Mark 9:24; John 11:27; cf. John 14:1; 1 John 5:10)

General Intercessions:

“We pray to the Lord” (Exod 8:29-30; 10:17-18; Jer 42:2-4; Acts 8:22-24)

“Lord, hear our prayer” (2 Kings 20:2-5; Isa 38:2-5)

“Hail Mary” (Lk 1:28,42)

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Preparation of the Gifts

“Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation…” (cf. 1 Chron 29:10; Ps 72:18-19; 119:10; Luke 1:68)

“Blessed be God forever. ” (cf. Gen 14:20; Ps 66:20; 68:35)

Eucharistic Acclamations

“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts…” (Isa 6:3; Rev 4:

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Ps 118:26; Mark 11:9; Matt 21:9; Luke 19:38; John 12:13)

“Hosanna in the highest” (Mark 11:10; Matt 21:9; cf. Luke 19:38)

Words of Institution: (see Mark 14:22-24; Matt 26:26-28; cf. Luke 22:17-20; 1 Cor 11:23-25)

“Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you” (a combination of Mark 14:22; Matt 26:26; Luke 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24)

“Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (a combination of Mark 14:24; Matt 26:27b-28; cf. Luke 22:17, 20; 1 Cor 11:25)

“Do this in remembrance of me” (only Luke 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24a, 25b)

Memorial Acclamations

1st Acclamation: “We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.” (cf. 1 Cor 16:22)

2nd Acclamation: “When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.” (cf. 1 Cor 11:26)

3rd Acclamation: “Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.” (cf. Matt 8:25; Luke 4:42; Rom 8:21).

Lord’s Prayer

“Our Father in heaven…” (Matt 6:9-13; cf. Luke 11:2-4; Mark 14:36; Gal 4:6)

Embolism: “Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil… as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13)

Doxology: “For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours…”

(found only in some biblical manuscripts after Matt 6:13; cf. Rev 4:11; 11:15; 1 Chron 29:11)

Greeting of Peace

“Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, ‘I leave you peace, my peace I give you'” (John 14:27)

“The peace of the Lord be with you always.” (cf. John 16:33; 20:19, 21, 26)

Breaking of the Bread:

“Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world…” (cf. John 1:29, 36; Rev 5:6-13; 22:1-3)

Preparation before Communion

“Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.” (John 1:29, 36; Rev 19:9)

“Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” (Matt 8:8; cf. Luke 7:1-10)

Concluding Rite

Final Blessing (cf. Gen 28:3; Deut 14:29; v 6:23-27; Ps 29:11)

Dismissal:

“Go forth, the Mass is ended.”

“Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.” (cf. Mark 16:15)

“Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.” (cf. Ps 115:1; 1 Cor 10:31; 2 Thess 1:12)

“Go in peace.” (cf. Exod 4:18; Deut 10:11-13; Judg 18:6; 1 Sam 1:17; Mark 5:34; Luke 7:50; 8:48)

Conclusion

Many people either take the Mass for granted or condemn it outright from ignorance. If we take greater interest in knowing the truth, promoting it and cherishing it, we will treasure the Mass as God’s greatest gift to humanity. In the Mass God gives us Himself.

Jenny1010:
I dont know who pual pogba is , but that guy must be good

How will you say he is good when i am gooder. Lol

Jenny1010:
I dont know who pual pogba is , but that guy must be good

How will you say he is good when i am gooder. Lol

Song of solomon can be interpreted into many ways.
(1) AS MAN been GOD while WOMAN been ISRAEL - its the expression of God's love for his people Israel
(2) AS MAN been GOD while WOMAN been Church - its the expression of God's love for his Church
(3) AS MAN been GOD while WOMAN been the righteous ones- its the expression of God's love for his righteous people

There are 66 books in the holy bible, subtract your age from 66, then add 50 to it. You will get your birth year.


Did it work?

bonechamberlain:
When would the executive act on its corrupt members, they are quick to act on the judiciary and legislature, let the other arms of govt act on the executive, corruption should not be a fight for only does not in buhari's executive.

The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. Nigeria must be very vigilant else we would gradually be harbouring another extremist dictator.

if the judiciary is not cleansed First how are you going to try those corrupt in the presidency? Won't those in presidency bribe those corrupt judges? I beg one by one. STOP WAILING!!!!

Why all this argument? Are judges above the law? Are they not human again? Was there search warrant? If DSS can arrest mr A, why can't they arrest the judges? Infact if arresting our corrupt judges will make an ordinary citizens get justice then so be it.
Imagine ibori acquitted of crime but within a year was sentenced to prison in uk. Is that not enough to even incarcerate the whole NBA?

Why all this argument? Are judges above the law? Are they not human again? Was there search warrant? If DSS can arrest mr A, why can't they arrest the judges? Infact if arresting our corrupt judges will make an ordinary citizens get justice then so be it.
Imagine ibori acquitted of crime but within a year was sentenced to prison in uk. Is that not enough to even incarcerate the whole NBA?

uduokirika1:
Dolphins not Sharks

Moreso, he was the first player to record a hatrick against Nasarawa United during a double-header home game at the sharks Stadium last season (2014/2015)!

Ifeanyi Egwim speedy recovery bro

sorry mistake

The player's name is Ifeanyi Egwim a former sharks player who joined rangers at the beginning of this just concluded season. KNOW THE NPFL STARS

Breaking: Injured Rangers player to be flown abroad
Injured Rangers International FC of Enugu player, Ifeanyi Egwim, is to be flown abroad
for medical treatment on Monday.
The Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, The Eagle Online learnt, gave the order to
fly out Egwim on Sunday night.
Edwin, a substitute in the last match of Enugu Rangers against El-Kanemi Warriors in
the 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League, was stretchered out in the 88th
minute of the match.
Egwim, who replaced Ocheme Edoh in the 83rd minute, was bearing down on goal in
the 88th minute after a pass down the flank had split the visiting side’s defence line
open, when goalkeeper Yekeen Kazeem, who was by now open and defenceless,
advanced on him for a charge, which fell the towering forward.
As referee Ferdinand Udoh pointed at the penalty kick spot and handed the goalkeeper
a red card, Egwim’s two teammates who ran towards him to bring him up started
crying.
Other players who ran to the spot just inside the El-Kanemi Warriors box could not bear
to continue looking, with many turning away and placing their hands on their heads.
Even referee Udoh could not bear to look further and his gestures thereafter showed
the extent of the injury.
Medical personnel quickly called for the ambulance, which took Egwim, who look to
have been injured just below the knee, away for further treatment.
The mood was further expressed minutes later when Chisom Egbuchulam scored the
resultant penalty kick in the 90th minute for the match’s fourth goal and to complete
his hat-trick.
Egbuchulam refused to jubilate the goal, even after some teammates rushed to him,
lifting his shirt to his face and bending double to weep.

Which contract was given to this man to say he was owed #68B? Is he a contractor or politician? What does he supply to goverment or built to warrant a debt of #68B? EFCC where are you?

Amapakabo, Egbuchulam Win SupportTheNPFL Award

It was an overwhelming victory for coach of Rangers International, Imama Amapakabo, after he was voted as the SupportTheNPFL Manager of the Season.

The coach pooled 84 percent of votes ahead of Wikki Tourists coach, Abdu Maikaba, in second position with paltry seven percent votes. Other coaches voted for in the first ever award by the online site are IfeanyiUbah coach, Rafael Everton (five percent) and Stanley Eguma of Rivers United (three percent).

In the Player of the Season category, Rangers’ Chisom Egbuchulam, won with 48 percent votes while top scorer, Godwin Obaje, of Wikki Tourists finished second with 36 percent votes. IfeanyiUbah Ismaila Gata polled 15 percent votes while Rivers United skipper, Festus Austin, finished last with one vote.

The award organiser, Akinlolu Alonge, said it was a way of encouraging the players and managers who are the main actors of the game.

“We are delighted to honour the stars and managers in the NPFL, it is a platform to encourage them so that they can do better next season,” Alonge said.

“We decided to make the voting open to people who have been following the league and the response was overwhelming. It shows that people have started following the league. “The winners will receive their awards in Enugu on Sunday when Rangers host El-Kanemi Warriors.”

He further revealed that the first edition was sponsored by Yarmalight FC proprietor, Farouk Yarma, while also calling on other sponsors to partner with them ahead of next season.

So it's an unprecedented 1 hr broadcast build up for the final MD between Rangers Int'l and El Kanemi.
It's the first time ever we are having that amount of time for a build up to a domestic league game.
We are live from 3pm.... Some serious package I dare say for those who probably have the best seat in the house....
Let's make the day trend on social media with #NPFL2016
Live on supersport and AIT

WE TOOK RANGERS BACK TO THE FANS – AMOBI EZEAKU
With Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and members of Rangers Board
The fans of Rangers International of Enugu would certainly be in cloud nine if by the
last match day their darling club lifts the season title of the Nigeria Professional
Football League (NPFL).
Coach Imama Amapakabo and the Rangers management led by Ozor Paul Chibuzor
obviously did huge spade works to turn around the fortunes of the club as they gave
and seem now to be fulfilling a promise from the beginning to finish the season’s
campaign on high.
The feat will bring to end a 32-year title drought since the club last lifted the title and if
that happens it would be more of a victory for two important segments of the club –
the youth and the fans.
Not only did the management assemble a set of very talented youngsters to form the
core of the team, Rangers believed much more in youth as they elected to engage a
very young Amobi Ezeaku as team manager.
Born in 1989 of Nsukka parents, 27 years old Ezeaku, educated as a lawyer, was not
yet formed by 1984 when Rangers last lifted the title but he is looking a sure fit to
inspire and bring out the best from his peers on the field.
Interestingly, even the League Management Company (LMC) also saw value in engaging
the young Amobi Ezeaku as team manager of the NPFL All Stars to the LaLiga World
tour.
In this interview with www.sportstalkafrica.com Ezeaku shares with Fred Edoreh of
www.sportstalkafrica.com his experience as the youngest team manager in Nigeria’s
elite league and for a club as big as Rangers International. Importantly, he reveals that
the tonic in the resurgence of Rangers is in the fact that though the club is funded by
the Enugu State Government, it is run by the fans.
Sportstalkafrica: As a young hand in club management what has the experience been
like for you?
Ezeaku: The experience has been memorable. You know, it is my first time as a team
manager. I came on board as the youngest team manager in the country. It has been
tasking but to the glory of God and following the laid down rules of the LMC and the
guidelines of the NPFL, I have been able to cope.
Generally, it has been a wonderful experience and there has not been any serious case
to complain about.
The league has tremendously improved with a lot of innovations and initiatives by the
LMC.
Sportstalkafrica: As the youngest team manager in the NPFL what challenges have you
encountered managing a club as big as Rangers with such huge tradition and array of
stakeholders?
Ezeaku: The challenges are enormous. You know, people in this part of the world do
not believe the youth should be left to do certain things but to the glory of God we
have been able to break through this barrier and look at where we are today.
I will say that being anxious with the desire to break new grounds has helped us to
sustain the tempo. There have been pressures on me as a young person handling a
club as big as Rangers. Rangers is a household name, a big brand but it has not been
difficult for me by the grace of God and because of the good leaders good put me in
their midst.
Sportstalkafrica: For about three decades Rangers fired blank as far as the league title
is concerned. What has informed the revival of the club this time around?
Ezeaku: It is true that after 1984 we have not ben able to win this title. When we came
on board this season we realized that the players are good but many are with shallow
mentality. We liaised with the board, the technical director and Coach Imama
(Amapakabo) and we started series of lectures focused on building their mentality, their
psychological strength. That went a long way to rekindle the ‘never say die’ spirit and
the will to win. Psychology is very important as far as modern football is concerned.
Then, we took action on the welfare of the players. The state government decided to
take it upon itself to ensure that the players and officials are very comfortable, happy
and enthusiastic. This brought a great departure from what obtained in the past.
Rangers now is truly a professional club but the pillar remains God. That makes
Rangers a God fearing team and then we choose to remain and abide by the philosophy
of the club. The players and the coaches are tactically sound, so the players’ major
role is to abide with the instructions of the coaches and I thank God we have come
this far.
Sportstalkafrica: Talking about God, at a point during the season, you nicknamed your
home ground, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, “The Cathedral.” How did that come about?
Ezeaku: (Laughing) Yes, the Cathedral just happened. We have this segment of our
supporters called ‘the 12th man’. There was a day they were mobilising fans to come
to the stadium on white apparels and some one asked “is this a white garment church?”
And one of the 12th man retorted “Yes, it is our Cathedral.” Then everybody caught it
and, to the glory of God, we are happy that the Cathedral has not failed us. We bless
clubs every time the come to the Cathedral.
Sportstalkafrica: And then, there was a great resurgence in your support base with
overflowing match day spectatorship. How did you achieve that?
Ezeaku: Everybody chose to work together. The government, the board of Rangers, all
of us understood and we passed the message to the fans that the club belongs to
them. The club does not belong to any of us. It does not belong to the Team Manager
nor the Technical Adviser but to them. So, we took the club back to the fans. Every
Rangers supporter has that sense of belonging. He has that sense of ownership, that
he has a say in Rangers. After some games, we provide a forum where we interact with
the supporters. They tell us their fears, they tell us what they feel we should do.
Rangers is more or less a community club. Look at our match day 36 game against
Sunshine Stars, even in the rain the fans came to support.
We organise ad hoc lectures for the fans. We have been able to re-orient the fans. We
have instilled in them the understanding that in modern football ‘fanship and
supportership’ is not about violence, not about throwing stones and such other objects
that are not recognized in the game. The fans are simply orderly and supportive. We
believe by next season the level of supportership, the ideas will be greater. You saw
the Mexican wave they did in our match against Nasarawa United. It brought out the
excitement and enjoyment of the game. We believe that by next season when we play
in the NPFL and the continent (CAF Champions League) we will see a lot more good
things from the fans.
Sportstalkafrica: It was a bit of surprise that being a very young person and still in your
first year as team manager of a club, the LMC chose you as team manager of the
NPFL All Stars team to the LaLigaWorld tour. How was that experience for you?
Ezeaku: It was a great experience. Let me quickly thank the LMC and the NFF (Nigeria
Football Federation) for deeming it fit to pick me as team manager for that trip. I must
state that we learnt a lot of things in the process. I was able to understand that the
LaLiga don’t joke with their football, the culture and the structure of their club sides.
We were able to bring that down to Nigeria. We believe that by next season a lot of
clubs will exhibit their culture and re-organise their structure. The trip was memorable
and instructive tactically, managerially and otherwise. I thank God we embarked on that
trip to Spain and we hope for many more similar exposures.
Sportstalkafrica: It seems almost certain that Rangers will win the title. The worry for
many Nigerian fans is about the quality of game and representation by Nigeria clubs in
the continental competitions. Can Rangers make the difference again for Nigeria?
Ezeaku: In Rangers we believe in one game at a time. We will win the league by God’s
grace and we hope to do well and make Nigeria proud in the continent. We are not just
going to the continent to be numbered. We are going to the continent to make an
indelible impression, an impression that will last a long time and bring fame and pride
to the Nigeria Football Federation, to the League Management Company and to the
entire nation.
Sportstalkafrica: What has been your involvement in sports or football before getting
into Rangers as team manager?
Ezeaku: I have been in football from my school days. I captained the University of
Nigeria, Enugu campus, and the University of Nigeria team to the NUGA (Nigeria
Universities) Games and the West Africa Universities Games (WAUG). I also captained
the NYSC national team headed by Coach Rotimi Salau. I was also in the national
teams, Flying Eagles and the Dream Team before I ventured into club management. .
When I left the Dream Team camp, I tried out with Wikki Tourists before hanging my
gloves and, to the glory of God, I did my National Youth Service with the NFF under
Barrister Okey Obi. My life has been about football and more seriously so in the past 15
years. December last year the Enugu State Government asked the board to re-organise
Rangers and I was invited to the interview and they subsequently appointed me team
manager of Rangers. That is the journey so far.
Sportstalkafrica: What course did you study in the University?
Ezeaku: I studied law at the University of Nigeria. I went to Nigeria Law School, Bwari
Campus. Even while in the Law School, we had to build a team and played against the
Bwari Community. We did some charity there. We believe football can actually be an
instrument of societal peace and promotion of friendship. Passing through law, the
laws of football was made easier because after each game your brain opens up to grab
the cases and the position of the various laws.
Sportstalkafrica: Are you single or married? Tell us about that other side of life and
how you cope being almost always away from family.
Ezeaku: (Chuckles shyly) Well…I am not married but I am in a relationship. But then my
family and parents are coping with the fact that I run the club as team manager.
Sometimes they express worries. I remember when we went to play El Kanemi and I
called my people to say the pre-match meeting was at night, they kept calling and
calling that I had to leave the meeting and go back to the hotel room. Still, they have
remained supportive and I thank them for their love and support.
Sportstalkafrica: So, you are in a relationship. Tell us about her…
Ezeaku: (Bursts into prolonged laughter) Like I said earlier, I am in a relationship and I
hope to the glory of God to settle down soon.
Sportstalkafrica: What’s her name?
Ezeaku: (Can’t stop laughing) I choose not to share that.. (continues laughing)