OBITUARY: Pioneer Rangers Players Bid Farewell to Kenneth ‘Magician’ Abana

By IIkem Asika

On that day, Friday 11th October, 2024 at Uruoji village Agu Ukwu – Nri, a pioneer member of the famous and popular Rangers International Football Club, Enugu (the Flying Antelope), Late Kenneth Obumeluwa Abana (Magician) was lowered to the grave at minutes past noon.

An age-long Igbo proverb has it that “when you look at the rough skin of an old woman, it would always seems that no Bride Price was paid on her head’.

That indeed paints the picture of the old men who spent their youth winning laurels for their country in those days when wearing a country’s colour at every international football tournament was a thing of pride.

This nostalgic imagery was made manifest at the funeral of late Kenneth Obumeluwa Abana aka Magician, the first top striker of the then Rangers International Football Club.

His fellow team mates came in their numbers to pay their last respect to this great forwarder who scored the first goal for Rangers at home in Enugu and the first international goal in far away Sudan.

He was named Magician by the late renowned football commentator Earnest Okonkwo for his ability to score goals from very impossible angles with a shot that strikes like lightening.

Seated in front of the funeral canopy were , Chairman Christian Chukwu former captain of Rangers and the then Green Eagles , Emmanuel Okala, first generation goalkeeper of Rangers and the then Green Eagles as well as Sylvanus Okpala aka Quick Silver .

The faces of the ex- Rangers players captured reminisce of those good old days when the Rangers International Football Club was a delight to watch showcasing events , episodes and moments of glory for the then official football team of the old Eastern Nigeria.

As Abana was being committed to mother earth his teammates despite their old age tossed the football around and among themselves as it is a tradition at every funeral their teammates and finally the last moment was when a referee blue the final whistle signifying the end of the match for best number nine forwarder for Rangers International Football Club Late Kenneth Obumeluwa Abana.

As his teammates left the grave side they all walked back to their seats with heads down cast and their faces soaked with tears .

One of his teammates Sylvanus Okpala aka Quick Silver, made a deep passing comment “Good night my brother when we meet again we shall continue the second half of the match” he said with a deep breath.

Abana started his football carrier from primary school in Jos , Plateau State and played for Enugu Highlanders in 1970 and later joined the then Rangers of Enugu and history has it the he scored the first goal for Rangers against Police FC of Enugu in 1970 and also the first international goal against Niger Republic in Niemey in 1971.

That international goal that added the title International to the name of Rangers and won trophies for the team and country in 1974, 1975, 1976 and runners cup in the African Cup of Champions in 1975.

Abana was the player that invented what late Earnest Okonkwo described as” Banana Shots”

Abana also had a coaching carrier discovering young talents and managing several football teams such as Premier Breweries FC of Onitsha , after he had graduated from an advanced coaching course in Germany at Collage of Physical and Health Education Leipzig in 1978.

As encomiums kept coming the way of Abana , his teammates recalled those glorious days of this great footballer .

Chairman Christian Chukwu who was his mate said .

Abana was like a brother to me and we joined Rangers together. Once Abana is in the field we are sure of victory and we would always win in every match “

“He scored so many goals and those goals come when it matters most and a pass to him means a goal for Rangers “

“We are going to miss him so much but then it is the Wil of God we say good bye brother until we meet again “

Former goalkeeper of Rangers and Nigerian National team Mr Emmanuel Okala recalled how Abana helped him in those days.

“Abana helped me so much as at that time the mother had a restaurant at Railway quarters in Enugu where we go to eat most of the time “

“He was a great dribbler and at one occasion he was dribbling to much at our defence and our coach Godwin Achebe would shout at him to dribble the ball to the front before he makes a mistake and the opposing team may score us ” he said .

Abana”s fellow teammate and forwarder Mr Sam Onyeaka recalled how he battle for the number nine shirt with him .

“Yes both of us were forwarders and I dragged that number nine shirt with him but I think he was better than me because he had better ball control than me though I had the speed”

“You cannot take the ball away from Abana because he knows how to guard the ball very well and in fact he was too good in those days ” he said.

One- time Manager of Rangers International Football Club in the seventies and former Commissioner for Information Bar. Jeo Martin’s Uzodike narrated the history of Rangers .

“It was indeed an honor and great privilege to have been the Manager of the team at a tender age and in those days at the beginning, Nigeria’ saw Rangers as another Biafra or the Biafran football team because the team was formed immediately after the NIgerian Civil War”

“Most of us were recruited from the secondary schools after the yearly tournament called the Academicals and we formed Rangers “

“Abana is indeed something else because with him there, forget about losing because we shall definitely win that match “he said.

While the world bid good night to Abana, trending issues has to do with the manner Nigerian heros are treated after retirement.

Stories have it that most NIgerian sports men and women die out of abandonment by the society.

However the Rangers International Football Club old teammates express their gratitude to former Anambra state governor Mr Peter Obi who started the payment of allowances to the old Rangers players irrespective of state of origin .

Also another former governor of Anambra State Chief Willie Obiano continued in that stead to take care of their medical bills and pay them allowances monthly .

Presently Gov Charles Soludo has improved on the welfare scheme of the old prayers of Rangers.

Speaking on this issue the Manager Bar. Jeo Martin’s Uzodike expressed the appreciation of the trio of Obi, Obiano and Soludo for celebrating them while they were alive.

“We are happy with them and even today Mr Peter Obi sent them a package and another one for the family of Abana “

“On the part of Anambra state government Gov Charles Soludo has been good to us since he came into office and whatever we want he makes sure that we get it “

“He has been taking care of our medical expenses and even when Abana was sick he came to help and shall remain greathful to him and to others” he said.

Before his demise Late Kenneth Abana had stroke and that particular leg he used in scoring goals was amputed which indeed was one of the saddest moments of him life .

According to the National Vice President of the Sports Writers Association SWAN Mr. Ikemefuna Asika and Anambra State Chairman of SWAN Mr Chimezie Anaso;

“We had to make spirited efforts by informing the public about his state of health and the response were great. Senator Stella Odua and Hon. Linda Ikpazu through the efforts of Bar. ODI Ikpazu and ex Rangers player, Arthur Enunam came with a Wheelchair and money “

“Some engaged the assistance of medical personnel to treat him and carry out tests on him ” they said.

To the rest of the old Rangers International Football Club teammates it is still a long wait at the departure lounge as the clock ticks and a fair well to the departed heros of Nigerian football.