Defending FA Cup champions, Enugu Rangers qualified for the quarter finals in 1982 and were billed to face Stationery Stores, Lagos at the Ginginya Stadium, Sokoto. Both teams found themselves on the same flight to the Caliphate and all hell was let loose.
Stores hitman, Godwin Obinyan took me back to that journey recently and I wondered why Nigerian teams have dropped standards since today, many of them cannot afford to fly or even stay in decent hotels.
Obinyan said : “We boarded the same flight with Rangers from Lagos. We were fighting and abusing ourselves until we landed in Sokoto. On our way back, we all were on the same flight and continued the fight in the air.”
The Adebajo Babes defeated Rangers 1-0 and advanced to win the trophy. That also earned them ticket to the African Winners Cup. The Flying Antelopes were involved in the elite Africa Cup for Champion Clubs.
“I scored the lone goal that eliminated Rangers in Sokoto, in the second half. Come and see crowd on the day of the match. Stores supporters took over the entire space. The home crowd, especially the Hausa/ Fulani gave Stores full support.
“This is why I will never forget all the great supporters of Stores. A week before the match, they were on ground in Sokoto. They left their families, work, businesses and spent time and money to cheer us,” Obinyan added.
Super Stores also suffered because of their unruly fans. In the 1983 African Winners Cup, the club was disqualified by CAF after crowd trouble against ASEC in the second round. That was after a brilliant performance against Gabonese side, Capo in the first round.
CAF knew how to handle the Flaming Flamingos. In the1970 African Cup for Champion Clubs, the Nigerians who beat Ibrahim Sunday of Kano and his Asante Kotoko 3-2 in Lagos, abandoned the second leg while trailing 1-0 in Kumasi. The continental body awarded the game to the Ghanaians.
Stores did not play in Africa until 1991 and would eventually disappear from the football radar. Obinyan moved ahead and even found a goalkeeper, Sam Okoye for Rangers, much later.
“Late Sam Okoye was my goalkeeper at TRACAS Awka. When he came for trials, he was a striker and wasn’t doing well so I called and advised him to become a keeper. That was better instead of sending him away. He came from Benue to TRACAS.
“Between the hours of 12 and I pm everyday, I would go to the field to train him alone. When Okoye picked up and became my number one, I took him to to my brother and friend, Christian Chukwu who was General Manager of Rangers and Innocent Abana, the Team Manager,” Obinyan told me.
At that time Rangers were looking for a good goalie. I convinced Chukwu and Abana that Okoye was better than all those on trial. The goalie was signed on for Thirty Thousand Naira. It was the same amount that the Flying Antelopes paid to buy him from TRACAS.
After falling to Stores in 1982, Rangers bounced back in 1983 to win the FA Cup. Chukwu was coach. He thus won the trophy as player and coach, a record that was equalled by Stores manager, Austin Ofuokwu in 1990.
Stores defeated Enugu Rangers in the grand finale. I remember the Ginginya luck followed the Adebajo Babes once again. They played in the Sokoto zone. I remember meeting Ofuokwu at Sokoto Hotels.
Other teams in that group included Iwuanyanwu National, Calabar Rovers, Housing Corporation Abeokuta and ABM Gombe. Ike Shorunmu would later join Stores from the Abeokuta side the following year.
I came across the highly intelligent Calabar Rovers Star, Celestine Nzekwe, Professor. Okwuchukwu Waobikeze was with Iwuanyanwu and his big frame did not hamper his strides as a dangerous striker.
In 1990, Obinyan was at Kwara Bombers. He had left Stores in 1985, returned in 1986 and moved on to Dragons of Benin Republic in 1987. Among his Dragons mates were Peter Rufai, Loveday Omoruyi, Albert and David Adi and Kalilu Amusa.
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His soccer journey began quite early at St. Paul’s Catholic Primary School, Ebute Metta, Lagos in the 1960s. The Civil War forced him back to the Mid-West where he completed primary education. Between 1970 and 1975, Obinyan was at Pilgrims Baptist Grammar School, Issele Uku.
Obinyan moved to Dumez Football Club Benin straight from.school in 1975. From there he joined Prisons FC, Benin. In 1978, the player returned to Benin after sending time at Premier Hotel, Ibadan, UCH, NCRI, NICOBOARD, Works Rangers Akure and Housing Corporation, Ibadan.
He said: “In 1978, I joined New Nigeria Bank (NNB), traveled with them for qualifiers for the amateur league in Calabar. We played three matches. Out of 11 goals, I scored six. I was immediately promoted to the position of Supervisor by the bank.
“Tony Ottah was our coach, one of the finest I ever played under, before Adegboye Onigbinde. Players like Stephen Keshi, Henry Nwosu, Franklin Howard and Edema Benson, all met me at NNB. I thought Keshi long throw”.
Obinyan also played for Insurance, Shooting Stars, ACB, Kano Pillars, NPA Warri and NNPC Warri, respectively.
As coach, he managed TRACAS, Zamfara United, Sokoto United, ACB, Bendel United, and was on the technical bench of Udoji United and NITEL.
