by Oviri Kelvin
Rangers football club, having proposed Awka stadium as the site for all its home matches for the 2021/2022 season of the NPFL games, awaits the approval of the League Management Company (LMC).
The LMC CEO Prince Davidson Owumi and LMC delegate Dr Sunny Obaseki, have gone to inspect the stadium facilities and if the body is satisfied with its assessment an approval will be granted to the management of Rangers to transfer their home games from Nnewi to the newly refurbished Awka stadium.
However, the Rangers’ administrative secretary Barrister Ferdinand Ugwuarua who was available to conduct the LMC team around the facilities is optimistic that the stadium will be approved having met the needed standard The Trumpet gathered.
“If approval is given, the Flying Antelopes will play their next home game (a Match Day 19 fixture) against Lobi Stars of Makurdi in Awka.
“We have seen the pitch, which is world-class, and the dressing rooms are superb, and I must say that the contractor did a great job here.
“Due to the poor pitch in Nnewi, we did better in away games than at home. After our technical analysis, the report showed that poor pitch was responsible. But we are hopeful that our home games will be much better with this venue,” he added.
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Corroborating what Ugwuarua said, coach Abdul Maikaba who is the technical adviser of the Flying Antelopes rated it as a FIFA standard facility and went ahead to appreciate the people of Nnewi for giving them all the support in their home games at the F.C Ifeanyi Ubah Stadium, Nnewi.
He added that the quality of the turf of the Awka stadium is a needed prerequisite to propel the Flying Antelopes into finishing in the top three at the end of the season to be guaranteed qualification for a continental football.
Meanwhile, the Anambra state government noted that the stadium was rehabilitated to meet the minimum standard required by FIFA.
According to the state government representative, Mr Victor Aniekwena, who is the vice-chairman of Anambra State Football Association, (ANSFA), opined that Rangers’ approval will be granted by the LMC noting that the state government is prepared to welcome the football club to use its facility.
