Enugu Rangers meant so much to the Igbo many of who did not play for money. The name was worth more than gold and silver. Emmanuel Okechukwu Isima joined the team straight from Holy Ghost College, Owerri in 1977.
Isima moved to Owerri from Abbot Boys Secondary School, Ihiala. Holy Ghost College was a strong force in Academicals football. Managed by Sunny Aguta, Arugo paraded the best team in East Central State between 1971 and 1975. Those were the years of Patrick Ekeji, Obed Ariri, Johnnie Nwadioha, Emma Merenini, Godwin Gbenimacho [Mature] among many others.
Isima’s first year with Rangers was fruitful as the Flying Antelopes won their first and only continental trophy, the Africa Winners Cup. Many remember him for replacing Stanley ‘Englishman’ Okoronkwo in the Lagos semi finals against Shooting Stars of Ibadan on a day ace commentator, Ernest Okonkwo nicknamed left back, Nnamdi Anyafo, Police man for checking dazzling right winger, Segun ‘Mathematical’ Odegbami.
Rangers were not so lucky in 1978. Adokiye Amiesimaka and Ekeji had joined the pursuit of the CAF Champion’s League. The dream died in Yaounde when Canon Sportif relied on 6-5 penalties to win. The pitch was flooded. The Coal City Boys later received a 3-0 pounding from Insurance in the Challenge Cup grand finale.
Isima had his eyes on a greener future and was quite outspoken about it. While the older members of the team were hanging on to the name Rangers as ticket to meals, the young man told Club Chairman, Chief Jim Nwobodo, that the name Rangers was not enough to pay the bills.
“ I need money to marry”, he told Nwobodo during a crucial meeting when the former asked him what he needed money for at his age. The senior players did not have the courage to voice out their fears and many of them would later end up in penury.
Isima left Rangers in 1979 to join Standard of Jos. Friend and team mate, Arthur Egbunam, moved with him. Egbunam, son of an engineer, had been promised scholarship to the University of Nigeria Nsukka by Rangers management. The promise was never fulfilled. He later earned a degree in Engineering in the United States.
The duo made Rangers quake when they came with the Jos team to beat their hosts 1-0 in Enugu in the league. The Pen Boys also defeated the Flying Antelopes by the same margin in Jos. That was perhaps the first time Rangers would lose home and away in the National league.
In August 1979, Egbunam flew to the United States while Eagles were preparing for the 1980 Nations Cup. Isima stayed behind and pocketed the left full back position. Nigeria won the Nations Cup for the very first time and Isima became not only a proud owner of Peugeot 504 car, he got a house and National Award from President Shehu Shagari.
Isima played 20 games for Nigeria between 1978 and 1985 scoring three goals. All goals were against North African opposition. At the 1980 Nations Cup in Lagos , his lone goal gave the Eagles victory over Egypt. Against Algeria in an Espana’82 World Cup qualifier, the overlapping defender scored in Constantine . The hosts won 2-1.
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Before that game, a para psychologist, Gabriel Okunzua, had predicted that Nigeria would beat Algeria and advance if Isima was made team captain. Substantive skipper, Odegbami, was dethroned mid air by the NFA and the band handed over to Muda Lawal.
Defending Champions, Nigeria met Algeria again, at the Libya’82 Nations Cup. Emma Osigwe scored the opener in the 40th minute. Four minutes later, Isima scored an own goal. The Desert Foxes grabbed the winner in the 65th.
Isima later journeyed to Portugal to join Vitoria. Sylvanus Okpala was also in the same country. Both were invited by coach Chris Udemezue against Tunisia in a Mexico’ 86 World Cup qualifying match. Stephen Keshi was under suspension. Isima’s goal gave Nigeria victory. Tunisia knocked them out in the second leg.
Football runs in the family. Isima’s younger brother, Ndubuisi, played for Asaba Textile Mills before heading to the United States for further studies. Many Owerri fans remember him for tormenting Spartans in a League match at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in 1981.
Isima, from Nsugbe Anambra State, was born in Kano on August 24 1956 and died in Abuja, February 18, 2013. He left behind a wife and four children, all based in Atlanta, US. H e was also a Moscow’80 Olympian.
