AFTER 32 YEARS, ENUGU RANGERS INTERNATIONAL IS CHAMPION AGAIN - Kudos Gov. Ugwuanyi

Wins Nigerian Professional Football League
by Obori Adaka

Leadership is one of those confusing concepts which many neither appreciate nor understand.  It is said to be art in one aspect and science to others.  It spurs action and brings out the best in people.  Leadership sets vision, communicates such and provides strategic pathway to realizing the vision.  Leadership sets goals and objectives as it energizes and motivates with human and material resources to achieve results.  The key is result.

For the past 32 years, the great Rangers International has been participating, I mean, just participating but not winning. The players worked hard on their games that many were bought by foreign teams in Europe and South Africa.  The only missing part is a championship win.  However the  story of the Flying Antelopes, the Enugu Rangers International Club changed for good when the effective leadership of His Excellency Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi broke the yoke of defeat.  Enugu Rangers is the champion of the Nigeria Professional Football League with a humbling win of 2 - 1 over Ikorodu United after decades of championship hiatus.

His Excellency Gov Ugwuanyi is not a magician however his effective leadership comes across as magic to the undiscerning.  First of all,  he provide the needed leadership by appointing a vigorous and youthful commissioner to head the Ministry of Youth and Sports in the name of Hon. Commissioner Chuka Ndukwe.  Secondly, he left the mid-level operational management team lead by the boisterous General Manager Chief Paul Chibuzor intact knowing that it is necessary to retain the experience and steep learning curve developed over the years in the spirit of continuity.

His Excellency did not stop, instead he went further to provide energy, motivation and resources to get the job done by convincing the State Executive Council to approve funds for the team to clear outstanding obligations.  According to New Agency of Nigeria in June 2016 as widely reported in the dailies, Gov. Ugwuanyi invited the management of Enugu Rangers to the Lion Building for a pep talk where he made donation of 30-Seater Toyota Coaster and Kia car to the team.   He reminded them of the importance his administration attached to the success of the club.  He urged the team to redouble their efforts and work hard to win the Nigeria Football Premier League (NPFL).  

Today, not only Enugu State but the rest Ndiigbo worldwide are jubilating for the return to glory of the Enugu Rangers International, a team that resurrected the Igbo pride in the early 70s after the devastating civil war, a team who dominated the soccer landscape of Africa for decades, and a club with both Nigerian and African championship cups under its belt as it breeds numerous players exported to Asia, Europe and South Africa.

Enugu State should unquestionably appreciate His Excellency Gov. Ugwuanyi for his unique leadership style of getting things done and showing results.  We salute the commissioner of Youth and Sports Hon. Chuka Ndukwe for staying the course and working with the Enugu Rangers board and management.  We are grateful to the General Manager of Enugu Rangers, Chief Paul Chibuzor who left the comfort of New York to join hands tenaciously to rebuild Enugu Rangers International.  You have proved the naysayers wrong with this win.  To the Chairman of the Board Hon. Steve Oruruo, we thank you for supporting the management.  To the Enugu Rangers Coach and players, you are the champions, our champions who have returned Enugu State to glory.  

In conclusion, the outcome of any type or style of leadership is result.  His Excellency Gov. Ugwuanyi has been methodical as he leads from the heart considering both external and internal factors and carrying everybody along.  He provided this vision and invested in the quest, the commissioner took the ball and ran to the ready and willing hands of the Enugu Rangers management who poured every resources into the coaching staff and players and the result is the championship cup of Nigeria Professional Football League.  As confusing as the concept of leadership may be, what matters is result.  Enugu State is getting result from the leadership of the day.  With patience I am sure favorable results will emerge in Enugu state foreign investment quests, the federal roads problems and end of attacks by Fulani Herdsmen.  Rome wasn’t built in a day.  Up Rangers International - The Flying Antelopes.

Obori Adaka, social activist and commentator, writes from Enugu

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