As teams continue to re-strategize for the coming 2021/2022 NPFL season, management of the ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers International F.C have concluded plans to excuse over a dozen of its playing staff to make room for more productive ones to help it effectively challenge for both the league diadem and Aiteo cup.
After a lengthy deliberation between management and technical crew, it was decided that some players whose contracts have expired won’t be renewed while some that still have contracts left are seeking the exit door.
“Most certainly, some players would be departing due to one reason or the other while some will leave as their contracts have expired. We need to quickly do the needful for us to challenge for both the Aiteo and League shield next season after our performance in the just ended season fell short of our set target at the start of the season,” said the G.M/CEO, Prince Davidson Owumi who was recently confirmed the new CEO of League Management Company (L.M.C) by NFF in Benin.
The astute football administrator further said, “We need to comb both within and outside the shores of the country for quality legs with proper professional attitude to help us realize our dreams in both competitions. We hope to get the services of the players identified by the coaches to deliver the goods at the end of the season.”
Players of the seven-time Nigeria league champions, have already dispatched for a two weeks break and are expected back in the Coal City in the last week of August 2021 to commence preparations for the new season.
While dispatching the players at a brief get-together of all players, coaches, backroom staff and top management staff at the players’ camp, Friday, the GM/CEO, Prince Owumi thanked all for their contributions towards ending the season where it ended stressing, “Management, sincerely thank you all for all your individual and collective contributions towards our league run for the ended season. It was not an easy run but we could have done better. As we end the season, naturally, some will have to go, others will stay to be joined by a new set to help the team achieve its set target for the new season.”
Recall that the ‘Flying Antelopes’ ended the 2020/2021 season on the 7th position on the 20 team log amassing 62 points from 38 matches just as Akwa United, Rivers United and Enyimba International earned the rights to defend the country’ colors in next year’ continental competitions from the league while Bayelsa United that defeated Nasarawa United in the final match of 2021 Aiteo cup 4-3 on penalties after a pulsating 2-2 draw at regulation time, will also fly the nation’ flag in the second tier continental club football competition, CAF Confederation cup.
