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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Rangers International Football Club of Enugu, one of the most enduring symbols of Ndigbo resilience and post-war renaissance, has taken another step in preserving its rich heritage with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with fashion and apparel design company, Nzapi.
The partnership, signed yesterday, will see Nzapi rebrand and produce Rangers-branded T-shirts, face caps and sportswear, reinforcing the club’s identity as more than a football team but a cultural institution founded in 1970 at a defining moment in Igbo history.
Since its establishment, Rangers has remained a rallying point for Ndigbo pride, unity and aspiration, and the new agreement is aimed at strengthening the club’s financial base while projecting its historical and cultural identity both locally and internationally.
Speaking with sports writers before the official signing ceremony, General Manager of Rangers, Amobi Ezeaku, described the agreement as symbolic, extending beyond commercial value.
“Today for us is more than a signing ceremony. It is a statement of intent. We are proud to officially enter into a strategic partnership with Nzapi, a fashion and apparel design manufacturing company that understands not just fashion but culture, identity and story telling.
“For a club like Rangers, identity is everything. We are not just a football club, we have a history, pride, resilience and a symbol that cuts across generations that was established in 1970. “This partnership is rooted in a simple but powerful idea. Rangers must look for who we are and where we are going. With Nzapi, we are committed to a merchandise that speaks to the younger generation to see Rangers, not only on the pitch but a lifestyle brand and then, the older generations who carry the memory of the legacy of this great club and the merchandise going forward will not be worn, it will be felt.
“It will tell stories of tradition, excellence and modern vision of the current Rangers.”
Ezeaku noted that the partnership aligns with modern football economics while safeguarding the club’s heritage.
He stressed that Rangers is being deliberately repositioned as a self-sustaining institution rooted in history but driven by innovation.
Ezeaku added that the renewed identity could further inspire the Flying Antelopes to greater on-field success, including a return to NPFL glory, last achieved in 2018.
Speaking on behalf of Nzapi, creative lead, Odinaka Ugwuozor, said Rangers remains a powerful symbol of Igbo excellence and deserves deliberate promotion.
“For a brand like Rangers that wears the prestige of Ndigbo need to be projected. We are committed to staying with Rangers,” he said, expressing confidence that the Rangers brand would soon gain wider national and international recognition.
