Forest Rangers F.C. is a football club from Ndola, Zambia, currently playing in the top flight Zambia Super League.

Forest Rangers Football Club
Full nameForest Rangers Football Club
Nickname(s)Fole Malembe
Founded1975; 49 years ago (1975)
GroundDola Hill Stadium, Ndola, Northern Zambia
Capacity49,800
ManagerIan Bakala
LeagueZambian Super League
2023–2410th

History

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In 1975, Forest Rangers Football Club started as Community Football Team at Dola Hill Forest Station in Ndola[1] and joined the Ndola District Amateur League in 1976. After a period of 3 years, the club was promoted to Division 3 under the Copperbelt Amateur League up to the end of the 1988 soccer season. The club played Division 1 football from 1989 to 1991.

During the 1991 soccer season, the club finished as runners up in the Independence Cup Competition after losing 5–1 to Nkana Football Club.[2] This was after the club had eliminated Mufulira Wanderers in the semi-final by a lone goal at Nkana Stadium. At the end of the same soccer season, the club won promotion to the Super League Division.

The club stayed in the Super League Division up to the end of the 1994 soccer season. During the 1994 season, the club finished among the top eight clubs of the Super League Division.

In 1995, the sponsors (ZAFFICO Limited) under the cost saving measures policy disbanded the team.

In 1998, the team was revamped through social football. In 1999, the team merged with Strike Rovers Football club and played Division 1 Football under the club name of Forest Strikes Football Club up to 2000.

In 2001, the club retained the name of Forest Rangers Football Club when ZAFFICO Limited became the sole sponsors of the club.

The club's Premier League Football performance since 2002 has been as follows:

Year Competition Notes
2002 Super League
2003 Division 1
2004 Super League
2005 Division 1
2006 Super League Top 8
2007 Super League
2008 Division 1
2009 Super League Top 8
2010 Super League
2011 Super League
2012 Super League
2013 Super League
2014 Division 1
2015 Super League
  • In 2020, Forest Rangers finished the FAZ Super League in second position, losing the title to Nkana Football Club on goal difference.[3] As a result, they qualified for the CAF Champions League 2020/2021 season.[3] This was the first time the club had finished as runners up since its inception in 1975 and the first time it had qualified for the CAF Champions League.

Colors

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Traditionally, the club has always worn yellow and green home kits, with green and white as their away and third colors respectively.

Achievements

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  • FAZ MTN Super League - runners-up in 2020
  • CAF Champions league - 2020/2021 qualifiers

Squad

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As of 13 June 2021

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF   ZAM Ian Sindaye
3 DF   ZAM Enock Bwanga
4 FW   NGA Quadri Aladeokun
5 MF   COD Dieugo Apanane


13 MF   ZAM Clement Mulenga
14 GK   ZAM Daniel Mutahinuemu
16 GK   CMR Leopold Kamguia


18 FW   GHA Amenu Moro


23 DF   ZAM Jackson Chirwa
No. Pos. Nation Player
25 DF   CMR Cédric Djeugoué


30 FW   ZAM Eric Chomba


33 DF   ZAM Geral Simusokwe
39 DF   NIG Wasiu Oluwasegun Jimoh
70 FD   ZAM Emmanuel Mwiinde

References

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  1. ^ "Forest Rangers Players". Zambian Football. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  2. ^ Musonda, Chisala (11 March 2015). "Forest Target Super Division honours". Zambia Daily Mail.
  3. ^ a b Mutonyi, Deborah (2020-08-10). "NKANA WINS SUPER LEAGUE TITLE AS FOREST RANGERS RECORDS DRAW AGAINST ZANACO". Lusaka Star. Retrieved 2024-08-27.