The Enugu state Football Association on Saturday 13/4/2024 confirmed Coal City Uni Football Club champions of the State Federations Cup Final that took place between the NNL side and Rangers International on the 30/3/2024.
The match which was Played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium (The Cathedral) had ended 1-1 after 90minutes and was to go straight to penalties , but Rangers International rejected the option of playing penalties after regulation time .
Presenting the giant trophy to COALCITY United, the Honorable Commissioner for youth and sports development Enugu state, Bar Lloyd Ike Ekweremadu described Coalcity United as the true champions. “ I will first apologize for not being able to attend all your matches but after watching what you played against Rangers you guys are deservedly true Champions of the state federations cup” he said.
According to Bar, Lloyd the state government will support the team to give a good representation at the national level, “we as a government will give you all the support you need to excel at the national level when hostilities begin”.
Explaining the decision taken by the state FA to present the trophy to the NNL side, the state FA Chairman Bar, Tony Ugwu said, the association acted based on the report of the match officials, hence Coal City FC were crowned champions.
Further confirming that the management of Rangers International are aware of the resolution, Ugwu revealed that, the match officials reported that the game was concluded on the final played on March 30.
According to him, there report confirmed that, one of the teams (Rangers) was not willing to go into the penalty shootout.
“That’s exactly what we did, and am sure the management of Rangers are aware of the report from the match officials, so what the FA did was to act on the report on the match commissioner and thats why we made the presentation today”.
“The rule said their must be a reason before a match is declared inconclusive, but the match commissioner give us a report that the match was concluded, but one team (Rangers) just refused to continue, and when one team refuse to continue, all we need to do is act on the match officials report” The FA boss added.
Expressing his excitement over the outcome, Coal City FC coach, Starplus Anistar said wining the state Federations cup has always been his and the clubs dream.
Coach Starplus who supported that, the rule was clear after Rangers International objected to penalties after regulation time noted that, facing the flying Antelopes at the state final was an opportunity to make history.
“Definitely I feel excited to be crowned the champion of the 2024 Enugu state FA Cup, this is what we wanted; we told the boys before the game that, facing Rangers was an opportunity to make history, and that’s why you saw them fighting with all their heart during the game”.
“The rules are clear, there is no need for a replay; After 90min Rangers didn’t want to play the penalties and after 48 hours the FA declared us champions”, he said.
Both Coal City FC and Rangers international will represent Enugu state in the knock out stages of this year Federations Cup.
At the finals last year, the flying Antelopes narrowly lost to Bendel Insurance by a lone goal in Asaba.
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