Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has congratulated Rangers International Football Club of Enugu for winning the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title with a game to spare.
The congratulatory message followed the team’s 2-0 victory over Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu on Sunday.
A 33rd minute goal by Kenechukwu Agu and 65th minute goal by Chidiebere Nwobodo handed Rangers their eighth league title and their second since 2016.
Their closest rivals, Remo Stars and Enyimba Football Club, lost their respective match day 37 fixtures 1-2 each against Sunshine Stars and Sporting Lagos.
This left the Flying Antelopes with 67 points with a game to go and five points ahead of their nearest rivals.
Reacting to the development, Mbah said Rangers’ title win and display on the pitch were a clear exciting reenactment of the greatness Enugu State was known for.
He assured that his government would commit more resources toward sports development in the state.
“I can tell you that the government and people of Enugu State are very excited. What we have now is the reenactment of the greatness that Enugu is known for.
“Part of what I said to the players before the match started was that they had the weight of history on their shoulders because they were walking the path legends had walked and that it was incumbent on them to deliver.
“I’m so excited again that this has happened.
“Indeed, our tomorrow is here. It is again part of connecting the dots in the sports sector. As you already know, we want to be the number one in everything we do.
“So, we have zero tolerance for failure or mediocrity and our work ethic is impeccable,” Mbah said.
He said the state would continue on that trajectory, making sure that they had a good reward system, motivate the players to go all out and excel.
On sports infrastructure, he said: “you will attest to the fact that getting our pitch back in shape immediately we assumed office to enable Rangers play their home matches here at ‘The Cathedral’ was a huge motivation for the players.
“But I want to assure Enugu people that they have not seen anything yet. As you are aware, our goal is a total turnaround of the sports industry in the state.
“This includes the sports infrastructure, building world-class facilities and upgrading existing ones to world-class standard.” (NAN)
