The management of Rangers International FC of Enugu, on Saturday, said that its winger, Ejike Uzoenyi, would rejoin the club’s camp in Oba, Anambra, latest by Sunday, Feb. 9.
The General Manager of Rangers, Paul Ozor, said that the club was not aware of any contract talks between the winger and any South African club or clubs.
Uzoenyi, who emerged as the most valuable player at the 2014 Championship of African Nations (CHAN) in South Africa, had a failed contract talks with Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates.
He also had talks with Super Sports United but all appeared to be stalled as Rangers management refused to let him go as a ”free agent.’’
Ozor, however, said that the former Rennes of France player was coming back latest by Sunday to sign a fresh deal with Flying Antelopes, as Rangers was popularly called.
“Ejike will join Rangers camp latest on Saturday or Sunday and on Monday we will discuss with him. We don’t know anything about any contract talks with any club or clubs in South Africa.
“All we know is that he is coming back to join his colleagues in training ahead of the commencement of the new league season later this month; he should be talking to us face-to-face,” Ozor said.
On the non-clearance of goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim for the new season, Ozor said Agbim was now a free agent, after the expiration of his loan deal with Rangers from Warri Wolves.
“If you recall, Warri Wolves said they are giving us Agbim on loan. We had earlier told them that we preferred an outright contract but they (Warri Wolves) refused.
“We wrote a cheque of N12 million for them (Warri Wolves) to release Agbim and Sunday Mbah but they refused, insisting that we make it N20 million for Agbim to be ours.
“We refused to take Agbim on loan because we knew his contract with Wolves will end that season.
“However, Agbim’s contract with us is over; he is now a free agent because he was never a full time goalkeeper of Rangers.
“We wanted to make him a full time player but Warri Wolves refused the offer we made to them, insisting he must come to us on loan,” Ozor added.
Agbim, now a free agent, is no longer with Warri Wolves, neither is he with Rangers, based on the rules guiding the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Rangers will play Dolphins of Port Harcourt on Sunday at Gabros Stadium, Nnewi, Anambra, as part of preparations for the commencement of the 2013/2014 NPFL season.