Mourning
By Chimezie Anaso
Awka, Aug. 12, 2024 (NAN) Some former Rangers International of Enugu players have expressed sadness over the death of Kenneth Abana, popularly called “magic man” in his active days in football.
Abana, a member of the 1970 team of Ranger, died in his country home in Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra.
He passed on at the age of 75 on Sunday.
Reacting to the incident, some of his associates, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency if Nigeria (NAN) in Awka on Monday, described him as a skillful and passionate footballer.
According to them, the deceased gave the game his all as a player and coach.
Martin Uzodike, who was Secretary of the club when Abana was playing, said he was the best goal poacher of his time.
Uzodike, who is the patron of ex-Rangers International Players Association, said “the magic man would be sorely missed.
“He scored some of our best goals, he gave us memorable victories.
“It is sad that he died without that right leg with which he scored those goals because of amputation,” he said.
Also, the former Cranes of Uganda Coach, Harrison Okagbue, said he was happy to have associated with Abana since 1970, when they played together for Rangers.
Okagbue said: ‘’Magic man was the player that gave the club its first international goal and victory and his place in history would be reserved for him.
“His death is painful, we were together in 1970 before I left and when I returned in 1975, he was still there.
He was a great player, an attacker and a knowledgeable coach.
“Abana was a friend to all, his passion was unprecedented,” Okagbue further said.
Victor Nwangwu said the death of Abana was a huge loss to the ex-Rangers association.
Nwangwu called for help for members of the group that are still alive.
He thanked the Anambra Government for supporting veterans who gave their youthful years in service to Rangers, which was the identity of the former Eastern region.
“Anambra Government has been helpful to us from Peter Obi’s tenure to Willie Obiano and now Chukwuma Soludo.
“They have all supported us, irrespective of our current state of origin.
“My appeal is that other South-East governments should take a cue from Anambra and begin to support our members while they are still alive,” he said. (NAN
