Rangers unhappy about CAF Cup schedule

The timing of the Confederation Cup match between Rangers International and Ashanti Kotoko of Ghana scheduled for saturday, October 30, 2003 in Enugu is a big source of worry to Rangers Management Corporation.

Apart from the fact that Rangers are used to playing their home matches on Sundays at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, beginning from 4pm; the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has shifted Rangers matches to Saturdays beginning from 2.30pm.


Expressing Management's disgust after their meeting on Wednesday, October 20, at Rangers Secretariat at G.R.A., Enugu, the Club's PRO, Mr. Edwin Eze said that the timing of the match is not favourable to Rangers.


According to Eze, "Most of our fans are traders and business people who see Sundays as the only day to recreate after six days of hard work. How would we convince them to abandon their stalls and shops on Saturday, as early as 2.30pm to come and watch the match," he wondered.

Mr. Edwin Eze said that, "Saturday is not a good day for the Corporation to realize money at the gate," adding that, "To play the match by 2.30pm as against 4pm is like adding insult to an injury".


He said that, "Rangers lost a lot of money in their last match with Al Hilal of Sudan when CAF informed the Management to bring the match forward from 4pm to 3pm on the day of the match, stating that most fans who could not hear the new development on Radio and Television missed the first two goals of the match."


On the fitness level of the players, Mr. Edwin Eze said that, "There is no problem with the players battle worthiness, ... our boys are fit as fiddle... we are cock sure about the three points and the four goals ... we are only lamenting about the thousands of naira we will miss at the gate ... May be that is the opportunity cost for the victory". He submitted.