Current champions of the Nigerian Professional League Rangers International have relieved head coach Imama Amakapabo of his duties. The club's General Manager Christian Chukwu made the announcement after the champions drew 2-2 with Zambia's Zesco United in the CAF Conferedation Cup first leg play-off in Enugu. The result sees Zesco United walk away with crucial away goals in the next leg to be held in Zambia. But in a new twist of report, the club are claiming the head coach is being suspended as opposed to being fired.

Spokesman of the club Foster Chimem while speaking to reporters said the coach who delivered the club's first league trophy in 32 years was suspended for fear of his life. “The supporters nearly beat him up after we conceded two goals advantage within four minutes to the Zambians.“Some supporters went after him, but for the security personnel that escorted him out, it would have been a calamity “So, the management has no option than to ask him to step aside so that he will stop being a target of the fans’’, he said. “It is unfortunate that the supporters revolted over the club’s performance against Zesco Utd and Amapakabo happened to be their target’’, Chime said. Rangers are currently bottom of the league with 13 points having played 14 matches with four games in hand.