Good morning<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An oriental derby always hits different \u2014 no matter our spot on the table. And we can confidently say we’ve bossed this region all season: beat them all, lost to none. So if you see our shoulders a bit raised, no worry \u2014 we\u2019re just carrying our well-deserved accolades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, let me take you back to Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was at the Cathedral \u2014 yes, live and direct. Even had time to stroll into the city a couple hours before kickoff. But what I saw? Honestly, it left me deflated. The buzz was missing.
At some point, a guy \u2014 who was actually a typical Enugu man in Obiagu of all places, mind you \u2014 asked me if Rangers had a game that evening. I laughed, but only because crying in public isn\u2019t cool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those who watched on NPFL Live or caught the pictures online, you\u2019d notice it too: more empty seats than fans. More plastic than people. It was jarring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just last season, this exact fixture was the poster child for what the NPFL should look like \u2014 overflowing stands, bodies pressed against barriers, even the tracks around the turf flooded with fans who couldn\u2019t find seats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what changed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is it poor fan mobilisation by the hosts? A league-wide failure to make big games feel… big? Or maybe both clubs\u2019 rollercoaster seasons have turned enthusiasm into apathy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s wild when you remember that between Enyimba and Rangers, there are 17 major trophies, pages of rich history, and countless legendary duels. You\u2019d think a potential continental chase would bring people out. But maybe the trauma of last season\u2019s ugly scenes still lingers. The Enyimba Supporters Club sat this one out due to safety concerns \u2014 and who could blame them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The truth is simple: success attracts followers the way jollof attracts Nigerians.
If we want the grounds full again, both clubs need to rise \u2014 not just to the top of the table, but back into hearts and headlines. They\u2019ve got the history. The fanbase. The potential. But the magic needs to return \u2014 on and off the pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fans bring the colour, the noise, the soul. Without them, even a derby feels like a scrimmage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We move again tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘EnyimbaEnyi<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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