Forcha Gingered Rangers For Hafia

by Emeka Obasi

Cameroonians love music as much as they play soccer. The land of Manu Dibango produced the music that was adopted by Shaqira at the South Africa 2010 Mundial. Ginger Forcha and Wrinkar Experience are not left out.

Forcha and fellow countryman, Edjo’o Jacques Racine, formed the pop group, Wrinkar Experience, with Best Eshalomi. Dan Ian joined later. The name was coined from Maryanne Wirnkar, a Cameroonian friend. When the group released ‘ Fuel for Love’ in 1971, it became an instant hit.

Wrinkar Experience broke up, regrouped as New Wrinkar Experience, changed to Rock Town Express in 1974 and released an album  ‘Funky Makossa’ under Ginger Baker’s ARC label.

In 1975, Forcha and Racine were at it again. They formed Sukafunk Africa just to honour Enugu Rangers. They came out with an album, Viva Rangers ( Up Rangers ) shortly before the Flying Antelopes tackled Hafia of Guinea in the Lagos leg of the the 1975 CAF Champions League ( then known as the African Cup for Champion Clubs ) finals.

Hear Forcha’s story : ” There was this dynamic young man from Onitsha, Jovita Nwosa, who owned a recording company, Jovico Records. He was very positive that Rangers would beat Hafia, we predicted Rangers victory”.

It was an emergency. Nwosa thought fast. He found the Cameroonian duo and tasked them with the responsibility of doing an album to celebrate Rangers as the new African champions.

” Nwosa inspired us and we did the recording in less than one week. A week to the match, the album was ready. He said if Rangers won, it would be a fantastic sell – out. Nwosa went to the National Stadium, Surulere with 2000 copies and fans bought quite a number”, Forcha said.

I did not know Forcha, who now lives in Lagos serving in the Lord’s vineyard, could talk sports. Racine is back in Cameroon as a pastor. I was reminded of the contributions of the musician’s to Rangers efforts.

” Yes, we also played a part”, Forcha stressed. The Guineans were the only Francophone country the Coal City Boys met in the 1975 campaign. In the early rounds, they defeated Accra Great Olympics, Young Africans of Tanzania ( Yanga ) and Green Buffaloes of Zambia, respectively.

The semi finals took Rangers to North Africa and they flew past Mehalla in tough battles that saw Francis Azuokwu come in for goalkeeper Emmanuel Okala in the first leg and Mathias Obianika score a first minute goal in the Enugu return leg.

Rangers went through challenges, on the way to the finals. Left back, Chukwuma ( Newman ) Onyeaghala and five members of the Supporters Club died in a motor accident in Ijebu Ode along the Lagos – Shagamu Highway.

Three players, Johnny Azinge, Chike Ikebuaku and John Uwanaka were injured. One of the supporters, popularly known as Rainbow, owned a well packaged studio in Enugu.

In the second round, Young Africans held Rangers to a barren draw in Lagos. A section of the crowd cried foul insinuating that the Flying Antelopes, who had beaten Ghana’s Great Olympics, home and away in the first leg, were soft on the Tanzanians because president Julius Nyerere supported Biafra during the war.

The visitors were surprised to see fellow Nigerians descend on Rangers players. Left winger, Ogidi Ibeabuchi, was beaten to pulp. Most of  his team mates, were combatants during the war. 

In the second leg, Rangers had to fly in Dominic Ezeani and Kenneth Ilodigwe from Howard University, United States. It ended 1-1 in Dar – Es – Salaam. Alex Nwosu scored for the visitors. Yanga’s goal came from Kitwana Manara.

When Rangers hit Mehalla 3-0 to qualify for the finals on 4-3 aggregate, it looked certain that the cup would come to Nigeria, for the first time. Having played in Enugu, they thought the final could also be played there.

However, I think the Flying Antelopes failed to accord Hafia of Guinea the deserved respect. The Guineans were champions in 1972 and boasted of quality players. Ibrahima Sory, also known as Petit Sory, was at the Mexico 1968 Olympics, Aliou Keita ( N’jo Lea ), Ousmane Thiam Tolo and Cherif Souleymane were Olympians too and solid members of the Guinean national team.

Sory was given Petit which means small in French, to distinguish him from an older member of the family who also bore Ibrahima Sory. Hafia also had Abdoulaye Keita, Jacob Bangoura and Morcire Sylla.

The first leg in Conakry ended 1-0. N’jo Lea scored in the 20th minute. Rangers did not know that in 1972, Hafia beat Simba home and away to win the trophy. They returned to Nigeria, full of confidence.

The NFA also played games, making Rangers believe that there was a CAF rule against hosting the finals more than 250 kilometres away from a country’s capital city. The team relaxed in Enugu, awaiting green light to play there.

It never came. By the time the Flying Antelopes landed in Lagos, it was less than 24 hours to the second leg. They did not have enough rest. Obianika scored a penalty in the 20th. Fatigue set in. Sory equalised. Tolo killed the game with a penalty two minutes to time. Hafia won again, 2-1, and left the with the cup on 3-1 aggregate scores.

I met Sory at the ECOWAS Championships, Bauchi 1990. He was coach of. the Guinean Under 20 team. The ex- international asked after Okala : “Where is Emmanuel Okala? He was a good goalkeeper but I am glad I beat him in Lagos”.

Jovita Nwosa did not make as much money as expected. Ginger Forcha and Racine reverted to Wrinkar Experience and continued to move, from Onitsha to Owerri, Aba and other parts of Nigeria. Forcha was ‘arrested’ by the Holy Ghost, in 1982, at Zeb Philips Nwosu’s Aforola Nite Club, Owerri and has remained a soldier of Christ ever since.