By Kamsi Anayo
Ex- Rangers International of Enugu Players have lamented what they called neglect by the South East governors since their retirement from active football contending that most of their colleagues have been abandoned to their fate.
This is coming as one of the players, 73 year old Kenneth Abana on Thursday was hit by partial stroke and has been hospitalized.
Speaking in behalf of the players founding goalkeeper of the Rangers International football club and former National goalkeeper of the then Green Eagles Mr Emmanuel Okala said that but for some former governors in the South East who came to their aid the serving governors are yet to attend to their plight.
“Its left for you journalist to do the crying for us under this circumstances because it has not been easy for us as old men”
“We know that they may be packaging something big but at the moment they should please start doing something before it is lait” he said..
Abana was rushed to a specialist hospital by his family members when his health relapsed on Tuesday.
It would be recalled Abana had been bedridden ridden as a result of acute arthritis and confined to wheelchair for over two years.
When reporters visited the private hospital where the veteran footballer was receiving treatment, he could not speak as he had had lost power of speech.
But Gertrude Abana, his wife was with him narrated that the incident happened in the morning after had had his meal and taken his medicine.
She said Abana was rushed to General Hospital Enugu-Ukwu but the doctors on duty could not manage him until they were referred to the specialist hospital.
She said her husband her undergone series of tests which showed that it was a case of stroke.
Uche Okafor, a neurosurgeon at the hospital confirmed to journalists that Abana was a hit by partial stroke.
Okafor said the case was manageable and needed progressive management for him to recover.
Emma Okala, Abana’s teammate at Rangers described his health condition as unfortunate.
Okala who described Abana as a skillful player and a patriot said the ex Rangers players family was worried and called on the general public to come to his assistasnc.
“I am aware of the development, it quite unfortunate, we the ex Rangers players are worried and are calling for assistance for him,” he said.
Before this development, some Ex- Rangers Players had been sick which include the former Captain Christian Chukwu who had athritis and was rushed abroad by Mr Femi Otedola among others .
It would also be recalled that Mr Emmanuel Okala was appointed a Special Assistant to the then Gov Willie Obiano on Sports as well as former governor Peter Obi who placed them on monthly stipends.