By Daily Sports on December 1, 2016

By Augustine Kalu

Former Enugu Rangers and national team captain, Christian Chukwu, has reiterated his call for Enugu State Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to immortalise Enugu Rangers by divesting the state government of the financial burden of running the club.

He said that Ugwuanyi has the brightest opportunity now to make the club a self sustaining one by taking it to the Stock Exchange to quote the club so that the public will be able to subscribe to the club shares.

Chukwu explained that it is not only by taking the club to the stock exchange that the governor would immortalise the club but suggested other things that the governor should consider to make Rangers, the only club in the country that has never gone on relegation to remain forever.

According to the former coach of the Harambee Star Stars of Kenya, ‘Ugburugburu’ as the Governor is popularly called by his admirers, can provide a piece of land in Enugu and name it ‘Rangers Estate’ saying naming after the club does not in any way mean the Estate belongs to the club but only bears the image of Rangers.

Chukwu reiterated the call to immortalise Rangers in exclusive telephone interview with Daily Sports recently.

He said: “I want to reiterate my call to the Enugu State Governor, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to seize the opportunity provided by the recent winning of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) trophy by Rangers after 32 year wait and immortalise the club forever.

“I have said it before and I want to reiterate the need for him to make use of this singular opportunity to immortalise Rangers and this he can do by quoting the club on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) for the public to subscribe to its shares. If the club is quoted on the Nigeria Stock Exchange, I can assure you the era of the club going cap in hand begging for funds will become history as the monthly and annual dues of shareholders would be enough to run the club.”

Continuing, Chukwu said: “Again apart from government divesting itself of the financial responsibility when the club is quoted in the Nigeria Stock Exchange, it will help to bring sanity to the recurrent problem in Nigerian Sports, the issue of administration. If Rangers is quoted on the Stock Exchange, there will be a turnaround in the administration of the club as competent hands will be recruited to administer the club instead of making it a job for the boys by political office holders. So, there are so many gains that can come with the divestment of the government from the club.

“I want to also say that the Governor should not only stop in immortalising Rangers by quoting the club at the Nigeria Stock Exchange, he should go beyond quoting the club to the Stock Exchange. Governor Ugwuanyi should map out a parcel of land in Enugu and name it Rangers Estate where people can come and buy land and built houses and businesses, etc. Naming it Rangers Estate does not in any way mean that the Estate belongs to Rangers. Naming it Rangers Estate is a way of immortalizing the club and not that the estate belongs to the club. And in the estate, the streets should be named after the pioneer member of the club. There should be Rangers House where people can go and relax thereby generating money for the club and above all, there should be a Hall of Fame where the initial members of the club are honoured.

“The Governor can also do well in immortalising Rangers by creating a transport line, named after Rangers and I can assure you that if such a transport line is established, it will add value to the club as it also contribute the funds of the club.”

Speaking further, the former Rangers, Heartland and Enyimba coach said: “If the Governor is able to immortalise Rangers it then means that he has immortalised himself because there is no way the story of Rangers will be told without his name being mentioned. So, it is not as if he is doing the club a favour per se, but doing what is right and making sure that the club stand on good footing.”   

•Photo shows Coach Chukwu.

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 1, 2016

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