Samuel Ekpe Akpabot became a soccer prophet in the later part of his eventful life. He spent most of his time at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan and retired as a Professor.
The don began his career at Kings College, Lagos where he captained the football team. Straight out of school, Akpabot joined Zik’s Athletics Club [ZAC] Bombers and was active in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Akpabot operated from the right flank. ZAC was known for producing good wingers. The first Nigerian professional footballer, Titus Okere, terrorized opponents from the left. Another dazzling right winger,Herbert Allagoa was discovered playing for Christ the Kings College [CKC] Onitsha against St. Gregory’s College, Lagos in 1938. That was the year Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe founded the Bombers.
Before departure, Akpabot authored a book, Football in Nigeria, in 1983. He was a columnist with the Daily Sketch and also a TV Personality who relived History through drama and music.
Saburi Oladeni Biobaku was Vice Chancellor, Universsity of Lagos, after Professor Eni Njoku. The latter made headlines when his daughter, Nnenna, won a silver medal for Nigeria at the Second All Africa Games in 1973. The former was an outstanding footballer.
At Government College Ibadan, Biobaku was known as Bisiriyu. His first big game came when students faced a Lagos Amateur Football Association [LAFA] Selected, captained by Alfa Bello [AB] Fashola. All but one of the students were based in Lagos. Bisiriyu stood out as the lone ranger.
Biobaku was at Trinity College, Cambridge where he earned a degree in History. Another degree in English followed at the University of Exeter. In 1946, Biobaku played for the university. Four years later, a doctorate in History came.
READ ALSO: Tottenham take revenge on Arsenal to reach League Cup semi-finals
Back home, between 1953 and 1957, Biobaku was Registrar of the University of Ibadan. By 1961, he had risen to Professor at the University of Ife. In 1964, the job of VC, Unilag was his. Before all that, Bioabaku taught English at Government College, Umuahia. One of his students, Vincent Ike, also became a professor.
Some football coaches were also in love with the title of Professor. Otto Gloria led Portugal to the 1966 World Cup in England. The Brazilian relied so much on the talent of the Mozambican, Eusebio. The Nigeria Football Association had cause to hire him as the Eagles prepared for the 1980 Africa Nations Cup.
NFA boss Sunday Dankaro contacted his friend and FIFA president, Joao Havelange. Prof. Gloria got the job and flew to Nigeria with two assistants : Carlos Alberto Pereira and Rao Carlesso. Nigeria won the Nations Cup. Carlos Alberto left before the competition began. In 1994, he led Brazil to win the World Cup.
Peter Amaechina, better known as ‘Eto’, also assisted Gloria in 1980.A good dribbler in his days at Stationery Stores, he was given the nickname which means homage, in Yoruba, by fans. Amaechina played and coached the Green Eagles and was earned the sobriquet, ‘Professor’.
Janusz Kowalik, was contracted by Ben Osi Umunna as Enugu Rangers Technical Adviser in 1987. He was a professor at University of Krakov, Poland where he taught coaches Football and Exercise Physiology. The Pole played for Sparta Rotterdam , Holland and was the club’s leading scorer for five years.
Two footballers fell in love with the title. Emeka Ozoani left Rangers to join Lobi Bank, Makurdi. He came on for Emman Iorsar when the Bankers lost the WAFU Cup to Africa Sports in 1991, at the Houphouet Boigny Stadium Abidjan.
Celestine Nzekwe was at the University of Calabar in the 1980s. He moved from Calabar Rovers to Acada United.
