![Fwd: SPORTS FLAKES. THE NEXT EDITION. FRIDAY V victoria ibanga to me, chinwe 6 hours agoDetails Pls publish. > > SPORTS FLAKES : OKALA : CONQUEROR AND EMPEROR OF CAMEROUN Byline: Emeka Obasi Category: SPORTS Picture: Emeka Obasi > > Camerounians will live to remember Emmanuel Anthony Oguejiofo Okala as one goalkeeper that made them cry severally and remained shoulders above their soccer teams. Only once did the legend lose to Cameroun and it was after full and extra time. Before that stain, he tormented the Indomitable Lions in Yaoundé, stopped Canon Sportif in Lagos and dismissed Tonnerre Kalara in Calabar. > > Okala's first encounter with the Indomitable Lions was in a 1974 Yaoundé friendly. The Green Eagles defeated their hosts 1-0. Other members of the Nigerian squad included Harrison Mecha, Nathaniel Adewale, Christian Chukwu, Idowu Otubusin, Musa, Philip Boamah, Kenneth Olayombo and Mohammed Lawal. The rest were John Nwadioha, Haruna Ilerika and substitutes, Mike Okotie, Jossy Dombraye and Yakubu Mambo. > > The Camerounian strike force of Roger Milla, Eugene Ekoule, Djombi, and Ama found it most difficult to put the ball past Okala. Even when Doumbe Leah, Bahoken and Machongo joined the attack from the rear, the Nigerian keeper was unbeatable. The introduction of Gregoire Arantes Mbida made no difference. The only goal conceded was by Keeper Mballa. > > At the Algiers '78 All Africa Games, the Lions were in the same Group B with Eagles. Okala was in goal again and the Camerounians needed a win to qualify for the semi-finals. They remembered that Nigeria were defending champions and Okala was in the team that won gold at the Lagos '73 All Africa Games. The game ended goalless. Nigeria later advanced to the grand finale losing narrowly to hosts Algeria. > > The 1978 encounter came a year after Okala had turned Camerounians into day dreamers. On April 16, 1977, the first international match at the new Calabar Stadium was between Tonnerre Kalara of Yaoundé and Enugu Rangers. Tonnerre had won the first Africa Winners Cup in 1975 but lost it to Shooting Stars, Ibadan in 1976. They came with Roger Milla. The Flying Antelopes gave them a 5-1 drubbing as Okala's face seemed to put Milla in a deep blue funk. > > Later in the year, another Yaoundé side, Canon Sportif, confronted Rangers in the finals of the third Africa Winners Cup. That was the top club in Cameroun at the time and had won the Africa Cup for Champion Clubs [today's CAF Champions' League] in 1971. > > The first leg was decided in Lagos. Rangers were merciless, trouncing the visitors 4-1. Their goalkeeper was Thomas Nkono. He was forced to visit the net so often as his defence succumbed to the fire power of the Flying Antelopes. With Sam Onyeaka, Nwachukwu Onyekwelu, Chimezie Ngadi, Aloy Atuegbu and Emma Merenini in top shape, Okala had little to worry about. > > The return leg at the Stade Omnisport, Yaoundé was billed for December 4, 1977. Canon were so sure the first leg advantage would be erased. After all, they were not Tonnerre who could not cancel the same margin when they fell to Shooting Stars in 1976. Canon meant firepower, yes, it was 'Canon Kpakum'.They apparently did not know that Rangers had many ex -Biafran soldiers. Coach Godwin Achebe, the 'Ide' himself was even an Instructor at the Biafran School of Infantry. > > Canon started well and were leading with a goal when the referee called off the match. There was down pour, the field was turning into a swimming pool. The fans were not happy that the rain gave the visitors a breather. The match officials knew that if they allowed the game to continue, it could only pass for a water polo match. Both teams were asked to come back in 24 hours. > > The hosts still bubbled with confidence. Canon had scored 18 goals in six matches on the way to the finals. They gained a walk over against Red Star of Congo in the first round. Rangers had played eight games and could boast of nine goals. Canon did not score less than two goals in Yaoundé. They defeated SC Bissau 7-1, silenced Kadiogo 4-1 and hit El Itihad 2-0. > > Achebe stuck to his formation of Okala in goal with Charles Adimora, Nnamdi Anyafo, Vincent Chika, Christian Chukwu and Ignatius Ilechukwu as defenders. In the mid field, he opted for Aloy Atuegbu, Christian Madu and Ogidi Ibeabuchi. Sam Onyeaka and Nwachukwu Onyekwelu were attacking. Francis Nwosu later came in for Chika while Emma Merenini replaced Onyeaka. > > Canon , founded, in 1930 were 40 years older than Rangers. The opposition could not escape defeat, so the Camerounians thought. Onyekwelu had scored in the Lagos first leg. Known as 'Igariga' he was huge and powerful. While the hosts were settling down, the bulky attacker fired a shot from close to the center circle. Nkono did not see it. He heard his net shake. Canon got one goal too. > > Then it became tough. Okala refused to be beaten. Mbida tried his best. Jeane Manga Onguene put in everything. The goals were denied by the giant between the Flying Antelopes' post. Theophile Abega, the 'Doctor' could not sedate Okala. They found him a hard nut to crack. Yaoundé fans thought there must be something about the Nigerian keeper. The match ended 1-1, Rangers lifted the Cup. > > Canon could not bear that loss. They claimed that Rangers would not have won if there was no Okala. It became a big issue. Cameounians swore that Okala was a Camerounian who chose to play in Nigeria and they were ready to bring him back to their country to man the posts.. > > Blaming them was not the best way out. There are Okalas in Cameroun. The first Foreign Minister of Independent Cameroun was Charles Rene-Guy Okala. He was Ahmadu Ahidjo's man and best remembered as the man who stood up at the United Nations in 1961 to speak against British Northern Cameroun [Adamawa Province] joining Nigeria. Like Emma Okala, Charles Okala was a Roman Catholic. > > His daughter, Nicole Okala Bilai, is the first Camerounian woman to lead a political party and she is today, a Senator. The lady has gone round jobs, from acting to modeling. Like Emma Okala , she was born in May. > > Okala is also the name of a town in Cameroun. It is in the Centre Region. One of their famous footballers, Elie Onana Eloundou was born there. There was also President of that country's Table Tennis Federation, a man known as D. Okala. Many were convinced that the man who punished Canon was indeed one of them, the defeat was that painful. > > Okala returned to Yaoundé with Rangers in 1978. It was the semi finals of the prestige Africa Cup of Champion Clubs and foes were Canon. It ended goalless in the Lagos first leg. In Yaoundé there was heavy rain again but the referee refused to stop the match, another barren draw. Both teams went into penalty kicks. Canon won 6-5. That was the only time the Camerounians enjoyed a better hand. > > With Okala out of the way, Canon were unstoppable. They won the CAF Champions League in 1978, lifted the Africa Winners Cup in 1979 and grabbed the CAF Champions League again in 1980. > > Okala must have had a good laugh. One of his younger brothers is Charles, but did not last long in soccer as a goalie. Patrick was going to step into his brother's shoes. He played in the grand finale of the Cote D'Ivoire '84 Africa Nations Cup. Nigeria lost 3-1 to Cameroun. At last Milla and Abega had beaten Okala but not Emmanuel. In 1988 and again in 2000, the Indomitable Lions defeated Eagles to win the Nations Cup. > > Emma Okala put Cameroun in his gloves all through his playing career. He was voted African Footballer of the Year by African Sports Journalists Union in 1978. Okala conquered Cameroun. When he quit, Nkono heaved a whiff of fresh air and attended three World Cups.](https://www.nextedition.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/download-1.jpeg)
Chioma Ajunwa and Emmanuel Amuneke are twins born of different parents. They arrived on December 25, 1970, hail from Imo State and won gold medals at the Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games.
Ajunwa won Nigeria’s first Olympic gold on August 2, 1996. It was in the Long Jump event and it was unbelievable. Even the Nigerian sports minister, Jim Nwobodo, was shocked that the Long Jumper excelled in a field that was headed by Olympic greats, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Fiona May.
It was indeed a stunner. After she clinched gold, there was no Nigerian flag to do the victory lap. Beatrice Utondu had to squeeze one tiny flag out of the crowd before formal celebration was ignited.
Amuneke and the Dream Team filed out for the soccer grand finale on August 3. Opponents Argentina had never won an Olympic gold in football. Nigeria did not arrive Atlanta as favourites.
It was when they defeated almighty Brazil that the world quaked. Brazil had assembled what looked like their best Olympic squad thanks to Mario Zagallo, the master who won the FIFA World Cup with the Selecao in 1970.
The Argies came out smoking. As the game progressed both sides were level at 2-2. That was when Amuneke decided to strike. The left winger whose two goals gave Nigeria the African Nations Cup in 1994, headed into the net to write Africa in gold for the first time. It ended 3-2.
Amuneke and Ajunwa had also taken part on the FIFA World Cup. The former played for the Super Eagles at USA’ 94, the latter was with the Super Falcons at the China’ 91 inaugural FIFA Women’s Championships.
The duo have something with Egypt. Amuneke was at the 1991 All Africa Games in Egypt and although he ended up with a red card, the player later returned to the country to join Zamalek. The club won the CAF Champions League in 1993. The Nigerian was art of the success story.
Ajunwa won Long Jump gold at the Cairo ’91 All Africa Games. A year earlier she had taken gold in the same event at the African Athletics Championships. The Nigerian contingent was led by Mitchel Obi, Special Assistant to Sports minister, Tony Ikazoboh.
Remarkably, Egypt had a president, Anwar Sadat, who shared same date of birth with Ajunwa and Amuneke. He was born on December 25, 1918. That was also the day Ahmed Ben Bella, first president of Algeria was born.
Another world leader who was born on Christmas day is the 23rd Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Pierre James Trudeau, in 1971. His younger brother, Alexandre, also called Sacha, came two years later, also on Christmas day.
Trudeau’s profile is interesting. He taught at Vancouver. That was where Emmanuel Ifeajuna grabbed Nigeria’s first Commonwealth gold medal in 1954. The High Jumper’s nickname became Emma Vancouver after that feat.
The Canadian Prime Minister who bagged a degree in Education tried to study Engineering at the Montreal Ecole Polytechnique in 2002. He withdrew in 2003. That reminds Africans of the Montreal ’76 Olympic Games. Nigeria and many other African Nations pulled out of the games because New Zealand dined with apartheid South Africa.
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Nigeria had a strong soccer team that many thought could have won gold. There was also Long Jumper, Charlton Ehizuelen, who was the best in the world at the time. Nigeria’s withdrawal killed the dream.
Ajunwa, from Umuihiokwu, Mbaise is so many things in one. She played football, was a sprinter, boxer and coach. After captaining Rivers Mermaids, the police went after her, commando style. She was abducted, taken to Lagos and was surprised to get an offer from the same people who whisked her away from Owerri.
Amuneke, born in Eziobodo, Imo State lived in Lagos and played for Nigerlux and Julius Berger before joining Zamalek. From Zamalek, he flew to Europe playing for Sporting Lisbon, Barcelona and Albacete. Younger siblings, Kevin and Kingsley also played in Portugal.
One other notable winger who was born on Christmas day and played at the World Cup, was Brazilian, Jairzinho. At Mexico ’70, he scored in all games by Brazil who went on to win the cup. His real name was Jair Ventura Filho. Hurricane is spanish for Hurricane.
Other notable personalities born on Christmas day include tennis legend, Andre Agassi’s father, Emmanuel Agassi who represented Iran in boxing and former Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif.
Beauty therapist, Helena Rubistein and former Scotland star, Garry McAllister, were born on December 25. Ex- Portsmouth player, Chris Camara, who changed name to Kabanga prior to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa is a Christmas baby.
Former England cricketer, Simon Jones, is a Christmas twin. His brother, Mathew shares December 25 with Ajunwa and Amuneke.
