Rangers International of Enugu are set to return to their home ground, Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu, after more than two years away from home due to renovation works at the stadium, www.aclsports.com reports.
The Flying Antelopes have been away from ‘the Cathedral’ since the start of the 2021/22 Nigeria Premier Football League season, and after a while, the club’s management moved to the then-newly-built Awka City Stadium in March 2022.
As part of efforts by the new Rangers management led by Amobi Ezeaku to return the team to its lofty heights again, the renovation and new pitch overlay has been completed and the league body has now granted them approval to return to their famous ground in continuation of the 2023/24 NPFL season.
“Rangers International have been granted approval to return to their home ground, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, begins the statement from the NPFL.
“The former champions have been playing their home fixtures in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) in Awka, Anambra State since the stadium in Enugu was declared unfit for NPFL matches in the 2022/23 season.
“The club subsequently embarked on extensive rehabilitation of the ground covering re-grassing of the turf, modernisation of the dressing rooms and the spectator stands.
“The NPFL said it has reviewed the decision banning the stadium following a recent inspection of the facility on the invitation of Rangers International.
“A correspondence from the NPFL to Rangers and signed by Davidson Owumi, the Chief Operating Officer, conveyed the approval which opened the stadium for matches from Matchday 16,” concluded the statement.
Rangers will host Shooting Stars of Ibadan next Thursday at the newly refurbished Cathedral, which has a new synthetic surface put in place. It will be their first game there since the 2-0 win over Plateau United on the final day of the 2020/21 league season with Ibrahim Olawoyin scoring the final goal that day.
