Some abroad-based members of the legendary 1977 Rangers International Football Club have appealed to the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide to include them in the ongoing redemption of a 48-year-old promise made to the victorious team.
One of the veterans, Arthur Egbunam, who is now based in the United States, said while he commends Ohanaeze’s gesture in honouring the surviving players with ₦1 million each, he was shocked to learn that some teammates outside Nigeria were not contacted before disbursement commenced.
Egbunam revealed that he was recently in the country to attend the burial of his former teammate and captain, Christian Chukwu, after which he returned to the US — shortly before the compensation exercise commenced in Enugu.
“We heard that Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo honoured some of us with ₦1 million each, which is a wonderful gesture. But I have waited for any invitation or notification to receive my share only to discover that names were provided by Emmanuel Okala and Francis Nwosu and cash disbursed to them,” he said.
“What I don’t understand is why those of us not currently in Nigeria were left out. They should have used the full team list of those who played the 1977 Winners Cup final in Yaoundé.”
He expressed concern that while one US-based player, Nnamdi Anyafo, reportedly received his payment after being contacted, the same effort was not made to reach others abroad who were equally part of the historic triumph.
Egbunam listed some fellow excluded teammates as Vincent Chika, Emma Mmerenini, Sam Anyaka, and Ignatius Ilechukwu, noting that they all deserve equal recognition after risking their futures and careers to uplift Eastern Nigeria’s pride in the post-war era.
“These are members of that team. We all made sacrifices together,” he said. “We believe it may have been an oversight, and we are appealing to the President-General of Ohanaeze to kindly look into the matter.”
He praised Ohanaeze for stepping in to fulfil the pledge abandoned by the Federal Government in 1977, stressing that the payment carries symbolic value at a time when many former players are battling health and financial challenges.
“We are very grateful. We are only asking for fairness so that all who wore that jersey in Yaoundé receive this honour equally,” he added.
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