Buhari
Rangers
SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 29, 2015 — 35
storm Atlanta By Dan Ikpechukwu, Atlanta
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describe the person of the President this way: “He is simple, decorous, calm and his knowledge of many issues including sports is amazing. I first met him when he was campaigning and he was delightful when I was introduced as NFF President.” The NFF boss was not done on the President. He has easily become one of Buhari’s fans and even wore a native attire common in the North and which the President is known for. “The President also cracks jokes and really made us feel good,” he said. He was recently appointed into the Fifa Under 20 World Cup Organising Committee for which he celebrated this way: “It’s not about me but recognition for Nigeria. I was humbled by that appointment. It means that Fifa believes in us. And coming now that Fifa is carrying out reforms shows great recognition. It’s good for Nigeria.”
Pinnick achieved a lot marketing football in Delta State although the performance of Warri Wolves, the state football team could not match his efforts outside the pitch. He appears to be pulling the strings again as President of Nigeria’s Football Federation and hoping that results in the field will justify his marketing drives. And no matter his efforts outside the pitch if results on the pitch are not encouraging Nigerians will not fail to throw stones. He hopes that Sunday Oliseh and his crew will bring smiles to the people. “We were at the Stock Exchange to worm our way into corporate Nigeria, knowing that they are the alternate funding we need to grow the game of football,” Pinnick says and quickly adds “we cannot get it wrong if we court them well and they support us.” It is important he knows everything will be wrong if the performance of the Eagles and other national teams sends wrong signals. He started the interview with Buhari and ended it with the President. “Personally, I feel touched by the in-depth knowledge of Mr President in sports. He cracks jokes and he is intelligent. He is in-tune with the realities of sports and beyond. Nothing good comes easy but he has shown great character to succeed and I know that he will end up as the Mandela of our country”. Late Dr Nelson Mandela was a global icon. He fought apartheid, went to prison, became first black President of South Africa during which they won Africa’s Nations Cup, World Rugby Cup and he left legacy that saw South Africa host the Fifa World Cup in 2010, the only African country to have done so. Some tall order for Buhari, one may say. In his first coming as military Head of State, President Buhari savoured the honour of leading Nigeria when the country made huge reckoning for the first time in global football, winning the maiden Fifa Under 16 World Cup that is now Under 17 World Cup. Can he taste as many victories as Mandela did? Such dreams are uncalled for. Pinnick surely meant that Buhari could command the integrity that followed Mandela here and to the great beyond. Buhari will only be marking 100 days in office next week, precisely September 6 and still has a long way to go. But he, surely, has started well and time will tell.
HE city of Atlanta, USA is today witnessing a convergence of former and current soccer stars and lovers of the game of soccer as former players of Enugu Rangers International Football Club resident in the United States of America under the name, ExEnugu Rangers USA Incorporated are organizing an event to honor the legends of the club and Nigerian football as well. Speaking to Vanguard Newspaper in Atlanta, the founding and present chairman of the organization Donald Igwebuike who played for Rangers International and Green Eagles in the 70s, disclosed that the event is aimed at not only honoring the former Rangers players who used their skill to entertain and win laurels for the great city of Enugu in Nigeria but to also immortalize one of the greatest soccer clubs in Africa, Enugu Rangers. Igwebuike popularly known as “stone” during his playing days both in Nigeria and the USA, enthused, “ we are exceedingly excited as exRangers players living in the US to have the opportunity of uniting for a common purpose to cherish the club which brought out the best in us and to also continue to help and encourage each other as we use to do in the field.” He went further to enumerate that the mission of the organization is to use their financial resources to help former players of the club who are either going through some health or life challenges, continue to enjoy the unity of the members of the organization and sow the seed with the current players of the team. In attendance in the Atlanta event today are notable legends of the club like the longest captain of Rangers and Eagles, “chairman” Christian Chukwu and keeper Emma Okala. Others are Ikechukwu Ofoje, Sam Onyeka, Ifeanyi Onyedika, Totty Okoro Totty, Nwankwo Kanu and Jay Jay Okocha. Others are Mike Nwanolue, Nnamdi Anyafor, Emma Merenini, Kenneth Boardman, Dominic Ezeani, Mike Emenalo, Azuka Harbor, Charles Adimora, Kenneth Ilodigwe, Anthony Orji, Charles Okonkwo and Chibuzor Ehilegbu. Nigerian match commissioner and seasoned soccer administrator as well as Nollywood star, Diewait Ikpechukwu is expected to be the keynote speaker at the event while Dr. Chuka Onwumechili, a professor of communication at Howard University in Washington DC will be on hand to provide some background history of the club as a former sports writer in Nigeria.
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