The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, on Wednesday paid a surprise courtesy visit to the management of Rangers International FC of Enugu, in what turned out to be a deeply emotional and nostalgic return to a club he considers home.
Adeboye, who was once a staff member of Rangers more than four decades ago, said his relationship with the historic Enugu club goes beyond football, describing it as a significant part of his sporting journey and personal history.
“Rangers is home to me. Anytime I come here, I don’t feel like a visitor. I feel like I have come home. My association with this club goes back more than 40 years, and that connection will always remain special.”
The SSA was warmly received by the club’s General Manager, Barr. Amobi Ezeaku, who commended Adeboye for his contribution to grassroots sports development and his commitment to creating opportunities for young Nigerian athletes.
Ezeaku described the SSA’s approach to sports development and leadership as different, particularly against the backdrop of the growing emphasis on athlete welfare, talent identification and structured development.
He also referenced Nigeria’s impressive performance at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, noting that the results underline the importance of investing in athletes and building the right sporting structures.
Rangers International FC, popularly known as the Flying Antelopes, was established in 1970 and remains one of the most historic football clubs in Nigeria.
The club has won multiple domestic league and cup titles and has played an important role in producing players who have gone on to represent Nigeria at national and international levels.
Its rich football tradition has also made it an important institution in the development of talents from Enugu and the wider South-East.
For Adeboye, returning to Rangers after more than 40 years therefore carried a significance that went beyond an official engagement.
The visit provided an opportunity to reflect on the club’s rich history and its continuing role in Nigerian football.
Adeboye congratulated the Rangers management, players, supporters and the government and people of Enugu State on the club’s continued relevance, while stressing that professional clubs must remain important partners in the country’s grassroots sports development strategy.
“Clubs like Rangers are not only competing for trophies. They are part of the talent-development system of Nigeria. The young players who come through these institutions are the future of our national teams.”
Also present at the meeting was the Chairman of the Anambra State Football Association, Chief Chikelue Iloenyosi, whose participation added another dimension to discussions around football administration, grassroots development and stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
Adeboye said closer cooperation between the Federal Government, state football associations, professional clubs and private-sector partners would be essential to building a sustainable pathway from grassroots football to the highest level.
In a special moment during the visit, the Rangers management presented Adeboye with an official Rangers International FC jersey, a football and a special commemorative book, in recognition of his long-standing relationship with the club and his contributions to sports development.
The presentation created an emotional moment as Adeboye received the items with appreciation, describing them as treasured reminders of his enduring connection with the Flying Antelopes.
The SSA expressed gratitude to the Rangers management for the warm reception and thoughtful gifts, reaffirming his willingness to continue supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigerian football and developing young talents.
The visit ended on a warm and nostalgic note, bringing together a former Rangers staff member who has gone on to serve at the national level, the current leadership of the club and football stakeholders committed to the future of the game.
For Adeboye, it was more than a courtesy visit. It was a return to a club, a football tradition and a chapter of his life that, after more than four decades, still feels like home.
