Enugu State Government has charged members of Rangers Supporters Club not to relent in supporting the team in their quest for glory.
This is contained in a statement from the Public Relation Officer (PRO) of the Enugu Ministry of Youths and Sports, Dan Onwuegbuna, which was made available to newsmen on Sunday in Enugu.
According to the statement, Mr Lloyd Ekweremadu Jr., the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, made the charge to the supporters club on their courtesy visit to his office on Friday.
The statement said Ekweremadu informed the supporters club that government was aware of the time and resources spent in supporting Rangers since the establishment of the club.
It stated that Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State deserved credit for appointing Mr Amobi Ezeaku, as General Manager (GM) of Rangers and noted that the GM had the antecedent to uplift the club.
The statement also said Ekweremadu explained that in no distant time, Rangers would return to Enugu to play its home matches.
According to the statement, the commissioner urged the supporters club to bring up a proposal on better ways of bringing private sector to support Rangers, as it is done all over the world.
It called for support from private sectors, philanthropists and others, noting that government alone could not fund other sports and take proper care of Rangers.
“I will look into the issue of your vandalized office and request for improved funding by government and bus to convey the members to match venues,” it quoted the Commissioner as saying.
The statement urged supporters to increase their fan base, and to always carry along every member of the supporters club.
Earlier, the Chairman, Rangers Supporters Club, Dr. Uchenna Iloakasi, congratulated the new commissioner on his appointment.
Iloakasi told the commissioner that the supporters club would work with him to uplift Rangers and return the club to Enugu, as playing away from Enugu was taking its toll on them.
He requested for improved funding, refurbishing of their vandalized office, and a bus that would be conveying them to match venues.
In their separate speeches, Mr Achunike Mgbatogu and Mike Oledika, the former chairman and former Secretary of the supporters club, thanked the commissioner for receiving them and pledged to support him in uplifting Rangers and sports in the state.
