IT was yet another round of celebrations for former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, as Enyimba lifted their fourth Federation’s Cup Sunday in Lagos.
“You can always bank on Enyimba,” Kalu said excitedly, adding, “with this successful Cup defence, I see them equaling Enugu Rangers’ 38-year-old record next year.”
Rangers remain the only side to have won the trophy thrice consecutively. It began in 1974 when the Coal City Boys defeated Ismaila Mabo’s Mighty Jets of Jos 2-0 at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. They retained the cup in 1975 with a lone goal victory over Sam Ojebode’s Shooting Stars of Ibadan.
In 1976, the Flying Antelopes stopped Owura Agyei and the Alyufsalam Rocks of Ilorin 2-0. It was a thing of pride as the Ilorin side paraded about 10 Ghanaians, including James Quino and Ahmed Nalando. Rangers at the end of the encounter poached the lone Nigerian, Humphrey Okechukwu.
Kalu joked Sunday that he could put his cash on the Aba Elephants.
“Enyimba are not like our Super Eagles. You can bank on the Elephants. At least, they can fight hard as defending champions. They won the CAF Champions League in 2003 and defended it successfully in 2004. They won the Federations Cup in 2013 and have retained it in 2014. The Eagles have never defended the Nations Cup successfully, check the records,” the ex- governor pointed out.
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