Rangers players in cash row, miss flight to Zambia

Fresh crisis hit Nigerian champions  Rangers on Thursday as the players refused to travel to Zambia for  their return leg CAF Confederation Cup clash against Zesco United in Ndola on Saturday unless they were paid their allowances.

It learnt that the players insisted that they must be paid  before embarking on the trip.

The development forced the team, who face a huge task to reach the group stages of the continental tournament following their 2-2 draw against Zesco in Enugu on Sunday,   to miss their   flight from Enugu  to Lusaka on Thursday afternoon.

But the management of the Enugu State-owned side  said they would pay the players  their  allowances in  Zambia.

There were  concerns in the Coal City on Thursday  that the team might not be able to make the trip on Friday.

The incident was said to have embarrassed the   management of the team rooted to the bottom  of the Premier League table following a series of bad results.  The development forced the club to sack coach Imama Amapakabo on Monday – after the team’s 2-2 draw against Zesco.

Efforts by the management, led by Christian Chukwu, to persuade  the players to embark on the trip  were unsuccessful as they insisted on having their money before departing the country for Zambia.

The players eventually had their way later on Thursday evening when their  allowances were given to them at the airport.

However, by the time the matter was settled, the plane  had already left for Lusaka.

Spokesman for the club,  Mr. Forster Chime, told newsmen on Thursday evening that the team would now leave for Zambia today (Friday).

~ The Punch