By Emeka Obasi
Just when everyone believed Professor Charles Soludo saw nothing attractive in Rangers, the Anambra State governor presented a pleasant surprise to club Veterans through a robust pay package. That gesture, well appreciated by many, must be handled with care.
The Flying Antelopes Veterans have one united family and owe much of their existence to those who reside overseas. There is a very high percentage in the United States, with a few scattered in Europe. These ex- players constitute a formidable force.
The Coal City Senior Citizens were like Abandoned Property until Peter Obi assumed office as governor of Anambra State. He bought a bus, placed them on monthly Pocket Money and played a huge role attending their socials. He was visible at Okey Isima’s funeral in Nsugbe.
The Soludo Award came in form of enhanced pay. One account says, the Anambra State governor plans to pay the sum of 100,000 naira, monthly, to each of the recognised Veterans. They have their way of taking care of such development.
However, crisis is brewing, following a counter order, from outside Government House, Awka, excluding former players who are non resident in the country. Already, about 73 names have been forwarded and not one of the Diaspora Veterans made it.
Charles Okonkwo, who lives in the UK, drew my attention to the twist. He has gone through pains, having lost his grandfather and two uncles during the Asaba Genocide. Another uncle, Olisa Chukwura, was one of the famous 1949 UK Tourists. The Abagana man and his Asaba uncle studied law. Now injustice is staring him in the face.
He said : “All Ex – Rangers in the Diaspora are not happy that one man, after the Governor’s instruction, should by fiat, exclude other Rangers just because they live abroad. It is not about the money, it is the principle. Over 20 of us have undergone knee surgery and hip replacement operations in the last few years.”
Sam Onyeaka called from the US. “I had to retire from my job before time to avoid embarrassment. As a Site Engineer, I could barely stand for more than an hour. I underwent surgery for my right knee replacement in 2022. The left knee was fixed in 2023. I am 73 now,” he explained.
Godwin Ogbueze was shocked. “This is disenfranchising all of us that are still Nigerian citizens, living in America. I refused to naturalise as an American citizen. Some of us are still actively involved in Nigerian affairs. This is very wrong on all fronts,” he said.
Nnamdi Anyafo was not left out. “I’m glad for them,” he told me. “But it looks like politics has crept into it. If they are saying it’s only for those at home, that really defeats the purpose. I can tell you, I don’t need their help but it is up to me to decide and ask them to give mine to home based Rangers. Just my two cents.”
Donald Igwebuike, who heads the Rangers Veterans Union in the United States wanted to get a clearer picture of events before issuing a statement. He called to emphasise that and I trust there will be a formal reaction.
Patrick Ekeji lives in Nigeria. Ordinarily, he should be one of the beneficiaries of the Soludo Award. So far, there is no communication to that effect. “I don’t know if my name is included, Emeka. No big deal. Let them have their fun”, he texted.
These Rangers Veterans may be presumed well off, that should not deprive them their due. And many of them have been of tremendous help to their colleagues in Nigeria, remitting dollars at will and when called upon. When Madam Rangers, Mrs Julie Alale, was buried in Nnewi, Okonkwo was there.
It is proper to understand the symbiotic ties between the Abroadians and the Homers. The first Antelopes to join the Yankee train were Dominic Ezeani and Kenneth Ilodigwe in 1974.
After winning the Nigerian double, they helped Howard University Bisons to shine, same year.
Howard won the US Inter Collegiate Soccer Championships. Also in the squad were Sunday Izebigie, Yomi Bamiro, Muyiwa Sanya and Tunde Balogun. Rangers had cause to hire Ezeani and Ilodigwe in the 1975 continental campaigns.
In the second round of the CAF Champions League, Rangers faced Young Africans (Yanga ) of Tanzania. The Enugu team had defeated Accra Great Olympics, home and away, in the first round but were forced to a barren draw in Lagos, by the Tanzanians.
Inexplicably, part of the crowd pounced on the Flying Antelopes. Left winger, James Ogidinma Ibeabuchi, was almost beaten to death. Their grouse was that the draw happened because Tanzania supported Biafra during the war. What a shame, Nigerians pummeling Nigerians.
President Julius Nyerere, was the first world leader to recognise Biafra in 1968. That beating in Lagos showed that reconciliation was not effective. Rangers invited Ezeani and Ilodigwe for the Dar Es Salaam second leg. Kitwana Manara, one of the three Manara Brothers, scored for the hosts. Alex Nwosu got Rangers goal. A 1-1 result was good enough.
Arthur Ebunam left Enugu for the US in 1979. He returned to play for the Coal City team in 1983. Sylvanus Okpala moved to Portugal with Isima much later. Since his return, he has also worked with the Flying Antelopes as coach. Ezeani was Sole Administrator in 1984. That is the spirit.
Soludo’s magnanimity must not be discriminatory. The governor has come back to Sports, in full force. His wife helped change Tennis star, Tanya Okpala. Let Soludo’s Solution go round.