Organising body of Nigeria’s top flight division, the League Management Company (LMC) and ex players of the league have joined millions of Nigerians in mourning the death of Rangers striker Ifeanyi George.
George, 27, died in a fatal auto accident along the Agbor-Benin Expressway on Sunday while travelling to Lagos after the players were given a break due to the Coronavirus pandemic. George died on the spot alongside his best friend Gabriel Eteka and Rangers B player Emmanuel Ogbu.
The LMC in a press statement made available to www.aclsports.com on Sunday afternoon condoled with George’s club Rangers over the sad incident.
“Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko has expressed shock at the accident involving some players of Rangers International on Sunday morning which led to the death of their striker and CHAN Eagles International, Ifeanyi George,” began the LMC statement.
“Dikko who contacted the club Management on getting the report of the accident, commiserated with the Club Management, team members and fans of the Enugu based club as well as the players immediate family.
“We sympathise with the club at this trying time and pray for the repose of his soul and wish the injured ones a speedy recovery”, the LMC Chairman told the club’s team manager, Amobi Ezeaku and coach, Salisu Yusuf in the phone call.
Devastated about the death of @rangersint star Ifeanyi George in auto crash
— Fisayo Dairo (@FisayoDairo) March 22, 2020
Joined Rangers from @EnyimbaFC at the start of 2017
1st goal for Rangers: vs @pillarsfc in @LMCNPFL on April 23, 2017
Last goal for Rangers: vs Al Masry #TotalCAFCC on Feb 2, 2020#RIPIfeanyiGeorge pic.twitter.com/5i55s9HnCD
In the same vein, three former NPFL players; Oahimijie Kelly Kester, Emmanuel Ariwachukwu and Sikiru Alimi paid tribute to the late George in separate interviews with www.aclsports.com from their bases on Sunday.
Kester who now plays for Gia Lai FC in Vietnam played with George at Enyimba during the 2015/16 season.
“It is sad bro,” Kelly told Aclsports Chief Football Writer Fisayo Dairo.
“I can’t even explain how I feel right now. George was my teammate at Enyimba
He was always full of life and funny to a fault. I remember we nicknamed him wizkid davido… May God accept his soul. ?”
Ariwachukwu detailed how he got the news in faraway Asia and paid glowing tributes to the late striker he described as a fighter.
“Indeed it’s a black Sunday, I was deep asleep in our hotel room far away Uzbekistan, when my brother, friend and team mate Micheal Ibe woke me to share what he saw on internet, I told him to stop such expensive joke, I quickly rushed and contact ACLSports BOSS MR FISAYO DAIRO to confirm the news….
“Ifeanyi GEORGE is someone I knew very well that is full of life, the last time we met was in super eagles camp for CHAN qualification 2017, I could remember clearly what a fighter he was. Playing against him is always a fight because you have to be stronger to contend him, this terrible news has just added salt to injury to this corona virus situation going on.
“Dear brother ifeanyi GEORGE, rest well in the bosom of our lord Jesus Christ, your death has torn the entire football nation apart. We have cried that we could no longer feel our tears. This is a great loss to NPFL and the world at large…. Rest on till we meet to part no more ???????”
Alimi who recently signed for Tunisian side Stade Tunisien also bore his mind on the tragic incident, describing it as a great loss to Nigerian football.
“Honestly, I was so shocked. The pictures and videos from the scene look horrible..
Though we weren’t so close, but I know he’s a good guy all round,skillful and hardworking player.
“Very confident and outspoken person, what a great loss to Nigerian football as a whole…. I pray the LORD gives his family, Rangers Int, teammates, friends and fans the fortitude to bear this. RISE IF POSSIBLE….”
Ifeanyi George, born on November 22, 1992 is a versatile player in his life time who played as a right back, midfielder and centre forward in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
He joined Rangers in January 2017 from Enyimba FC, scoring 14 league goals and five in the CAF Confederation Cup during his time with the Flying Antelopes before he met his untimely death on Sunday.
