By Ikemefuna Asika
Former Secretary of Rangers Int’l FC of Enugu, Joe-MartinsUzodike has commended governor of Anambra Prof. Chukwuma Soludo for his massive welfare package for veteran players of the club popularly known as Ex-Rangers.
Uzodike who was Rangers Int’l FC secretary between 1974 and 1984, made the commendation while speaking to newsmen in Awka on Thursday.
He said though the state government had been catering to the welfare of Ex-Rangers, the new package announcement made by Soludo when he led them on a courtesy visit to him at the weekend was unprecedented.
He disclosed the stipend was for every ex- Rangers player irrespective of their State of origin.
“I want to thank Gov. Chukwuma Soludo for first of all accepting my request that ex Rangers should come and see him and secondly, for the unprecedented lifesaving welfare package he announced.
“Soludo increased the monthly stipend of these legends from N15,000 to N100,000, he also announced free medical care for those of them from Anambra State at the state owned Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital.
“This is particularly interesting because Rangers Int’l was the identity of East Central State after the civil war, these people brought joy to the people with the games they played, they also gave us identity.
“Soludo also gave these ex Rangers Int’l players, about 75 of them, a sum of N200,000 and a 50kg bag of rice each during the visit. It has never been this good, I want to thank him for his kind gesture towards these great men,” he said.
Uzodike, a former Commissioner for Information and Culture in Anambra while appreciating Soludo called on other state governors to borrow a leaf and emulate him.
He said it was true that Anambra had demonstrated leadership in the care for the former Rangers players, it was time other states identified with the legends from their domain and take good care of them while they were still alive.
“These people were great men who made us proud in their time, they led the East Central State people back to every part of Nigeria and Africa after the war with football.
“They deserve the best they can get while alive and I encourage other governors to borrow a leaf from Soludo,” he said.
