NPFL: Rangers Engage Ugwu As Caretaker Coach After Ogunbote Departure

Management of Coal city ‘Flying Antelopes’, Rangers International F.C ably led by Prince Davidson Owumi, has engaged the services of former senior international and club’ defense Trojan, Benedict Ugwu as care-taker head coach pending when a substantive technical adviser is hired.

In an exclusive chat, Prince Owumi said that Ugwu has been saddled with the task of taking care of the technical department of the team especially as the players retained return to begin pre-season activities following the expiration of the contract of former gaffer, Olugbenga Ogunbote.

“There is no room for any vacuum and Ugwu has shown through his actions and technical contributions that he has what it takes to lead our team on a care-taker basis. As a senior national team player, Benedict distinguished himself. As a player of Rangers, he was full of the ‘Never Say Die’ spirit. Even when he took his game oversea, he was a great ambassador of club and country. When he came back, he showed some great stuff with the feeder team. Naturally, it is the belief of management that he has what it takes to guide us before a substantive technical adviser come around,” said the G.M of Rangers.

Benedict Ugwu came to the lime light with the famous Benue Cement Company F.C of Gboko where he shorn like a million star to help the Gboko side to a national challenge cup and CAF cup winners cup in 1990 the same year he won the best player award in the country and third best play on the continent.

Ugwu, who spent a dedicated ten years service to the ‘Flying Antelopes’ in his playing days, was a strong member of the team that won the national challenge cup for the Enugu side in 1983 and 1984 before taking his skills to such clubs as El-Kanemi Warriors and 3SC where he also excelled before venturing overseas.

‘Surugede’, as Coach Benedict Ugwu is fondly called is a N.I.S, Lagos and CAF coaching license holder.