Simon’s account

Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has said he was not offered a professional contract by Enugu Rangers after a three-month trial in his early career, and that he believes his ethnicity was the reason.

Speaking in an interview with UrbanDwellSport, the Paris FC forward, now 30, said he trained with Rangers for three months and captained the club’s screening team, believing his performances had been strong enough to earn a deal. He said a player from a different background arrived and signed a professional contract after only a week of training, and that he was told at the time it was because he was from the north. Simon described it as the first time he had shared the story publicly, calling the experience a disgrace.

Rangers’ response

Enugu Rangers responded on Friday with an official statement posted to the club’s X account, acknowledging Simon’s right to share his personal account while firmly rejecting the substance of the claim. The club stated plainly that it has never operated any policy of discrimination based on ethnicity, tribe, religion, or place of origin.

The statement went on to describe Rangers as a national institution despite its roots in Enugu and the South-East, saying the club has fielded players, coaches, and officials from across Nigeria and the continent throughout its more than five decade history. Rangers said recruitment decisions are based on footballing ability, character, discipline, and commitment, adding that thousands of players have trialled with the club over the years, some earning contracts and others not, for a range of sporting and administrative reasons unrelated to ethnicity.

The club also said its current administration has reinforced its commitment to meritocracy and inclusion across its men’s, women’s, and youth setups, and reiterated that it remains committed to giving equal opportunity to players regardless of background.