Nigerian Club Enugu Rangers Fire Coach Through Public Address System During A Match
Nigeria’s professional Premier League side and flag bearers in the CAF Confederation Cup Enugu Rangers have made history by becoming the first club in Africa to sack a manager while the game is on.
Reports circulating are that over the weekend, Nigerian Professional Football League side, Enugu Rangers announced the sacking of their coach, Benedict Ugwu, over the public address system even while the game was still on.
Benedict Ugwu was in the dugout for Enugu Rangers game against Akwa starlets in a league game when the PA walked up to him and fired him after Enugu Rangers conceded the opening goal at home in a game that ended 0-2 in favor of Akwa Starlet.
The embarrassing defeat to Akwa Starlets saw Enugu Rangers part ways with Ugwu and his technical crew members.
The management of the club appointed former Super Eagles goalkeeper Sylvanus Okpala their new technical adviser with the immediate effect.
“It’s quite embarrassing, they should have waited till the end of the game before sacking the coach and not the PA walking up to the coach and telling him you are fired while the game is going on”
Since the start of the current campaign, Enugu Rangers have recorded just a win, one draw and three defeats in their opening five matches and currently sits 15th of the table.
Enugu Rangers begin the group phase of the Caf Confederations Cup next Sunday when they host big-spending Egyptian club Pyramids FC.
Fans took to Twitter to confirm the bizarre news and a first of its kind in Africa, if not in world football where coaches are utterly disrespected and held to ransom by “unprofessional” clubs.
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By Gerald Dandah
