Pitch Specialists and technical officials of the League Management Company, LMC, are expected to arrive Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, for an on the spot inspection of the newly completed Awka City Stadium, Completespirts.com can exclusively report.
Rangers International had communicated the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, organisers, intimating them of their desire to relocate to the edifice recently constructed by stadium and pitch construction giants, Monimichelle.
The stadium was officially commissioned on December 28, 2021, by the outgoing Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willy Obiano.
Rangers, with the approval of the LMC, have been playing their 2021/2022 NPFL home matches at the FC Ifeanyiubah Stadium on Ozubulu Road, Nnewi.
The seven-time Nigeria champions have not enjoyed that makeshift home ground, having lost twice and drew twice in their last eight home games so far in the current campaign.
Also Read – NPFL: Rangers Thrash Akwa United Away; Rivers United Extend Unbeaten Streak
The Coal City Flying Antelopes were quick to blame the poor playing surface of the FC Ifeanyiubah Stadium for their undulating run in the season.
Time and again, Technical Adviser, Abdul Maikaba, would tell reporters that their adopted home is frustrating their run in the season.
The former Akwa United and Plateau United gaffer told Completesports.com that his players were denied freedom of expression by the pitch, thus, hampering their good potentials.
“Yes, I’ve made it clear to the management that this pitch is affecting us and there is an urgent need for us to relocate to another pitch,” Maikaba said.
Enugu Rangers shifted their 2021/2022 NPFL home matches to FC Ifeanyiubah Stadium due to the regrassing and drainage work going on at their Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu home ground.
However, the spate of valuable points dropped at home on account of poor pitch and buoyed by coach Maikaba’s request, officials of Rangers approached the Anambra State Sports Development Commission for permission to shift their home games to the new stadium in the state capital.
This request was promptly approved but absence of inner perimeter fencing at the stadium held back their move earlier.
With inner perimeter fence now installed, LMC are scheduled to arrive Awka on Tuesday, March 15, to inspect it. And barring any drawback, would give Rangers the greenlight to quickly leave Nnewi for the nearby Awka, presumably in the second stanza of the season.
Last week Friday, the stadium turf was successfully tested with three matches staged by the Anambra Independent Football League, AIFL.
“I won’t say the exact day we would move to Awka Stadium. For us, we would want it to be in a matter of days, but yet you know, initially, absence of inner perimeter fence hampered our resolve to move in,”
an official of Rangers told Completespirts.com.
“But now, we learnt the perimeter fence has been installed and good enough, LMC officials will come on Tuesday, March 15, for their technical inspection.
“We hope everything goes well so we can move in.
“Yes, beyond the smooth surface of the pitch which will afford our players freedom of expression and better performance, you can as well consider the proximity of Awka to Enugu as equally an advantage.”
On Sunday, March 13, Completesports.com visited the new Awka Stadium located opposite Nnamdi Azikiwe University Temporary side.
JBC Obikwelu, a member Anambra State Football Association was seen supervising finishing touches to the car park and protective security barricade behind the State box.
“We are expecting LMC inspection team on Tuesday. As you can see, everything is in place and we aren’t leaving anything to chance,” Obikwelu, a lawyer and retired referee told Completesports.com.
