Sylvanus Okpala (aka ‘Quick Silver’) and Fidelis Ilechukwu are understood to have shown interest in succeeding Olugbenga Ogunbote as Enugu Rangers coach, Completesports.com reports.
Ogunbote left Rangers at the expiration of his two-year contract, and has been hired by Lobi Stars of Makurdi.
Rangers have equally entrusted the Coal City Flying Antelopes into the care of Ben ‘Surugede’ Ugwu on a stopgap arrangement.
Ugwu is a former player of the club who started his coaching career in 2012 when he guided Enugu state festival team to win the soccer gold medal at 2012 National Sports Festival.
He was later engaged by his childhood club as coach of the Feeder Team, and was soon afterwards elevated to senior team in the capacity of assistant coach.
In that capacity, Ugwu has understudied a number of coaches, including Sylvanus Okpala, the late Chukwuma Agbo and Gbenga Ogunbote.
Completesports.com’s checks revealed that Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) FC of Lagos coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu and Okpala have shown interest in landing the club’s plum job.
“For now, these are the only known coaches who have expressed interest in coaching Rangers,” an official told Completesports.com on condition of anonymity.
“But whether either of them would be considered for engagement, that I can’t say. We have Ben Ugwu now on the post. He was a former player of the club.
“Ugwu has been assistant coach under about three big coaches and who knows, this could be his time. Its all about support. Zinedine Zidane came off similar youth coach position at Real Madrid to sweep three UEFA Champions League titles in a row,” the official noted.
Sylvanus Okpala was a former player of Rangers. He equally captained the Flying Eagles and had professional stint in Portugal. Quick Silver also won the 1980 Nations Cup and featured in the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.
He was Rangers interim coach when Imama Amapakabo left leading to the arrival of Gbenga Ogunbote.
By Sab Osuji
