Soccer shocker that was how Chief Olalekan Sanusi Salami described it. As founder and Chairman of Shooting Stars football club, he was widely traveled but what confronted him in Yaounde, June 3, 1984 was unbelievable.
The Oluyole Warriors , Africa Cup Winners in 1976, were playing in the prestige CAF Champions League which no Nigerian team had been able to win. And so much was put towards preparations. Segun Odegbami was recalled from looming retirement.
Odegbami had gone scouting for players around Ghana. It was a solid squad. Captained by Taiwo Ogunjobi, other stars included Muda Lawal, Felix Owolabi, Rashidi Yekini, Ademola Adesina, Adegoke Adelabu and Wakilu Oyenuga.
In the second round, Shooting Stars walloped Tonnerre Kalara of Cameroun 4-0 in the Ibadan first leg. The visitors were Winners Cup champions in 1975 before they were dethroned a year later by the Ibadan team . Old customers, you could say.
The return leg in Cameroun was not what Chief Salami imagined. The goals kept coming and by the time Tonnerre put the fourth in their opponents net, he found himself in the toilet. Doing just nothing. He could not bear it. Four goals cancelled just like that!
The Ibadan high chief was still in there when both teams settled for penalties. His team advanced 5-4 thanks to Muda whose kick turned out to be the decider. Chief Salami was nowhere to be found. Someone hurried towards the gents.
Lo and behold, The Shooting Stars boss was still dazed and murmuring:”soccer shocker, soccer shocker [ you may read shoccer socker]”. He did not know that the game had ended in his Boys’ favour.
Salami was emotional about his pet squad which he founded in 1963 from Pepsi Cola FC. It became Western Nigeria Development Corporation [WNDC] Shooting Stars. He was Executive Director of WNDC at the time.
READ ALSO: SPORTS FLAKES: In Madagascar, match ended 149-0
WNDC will always be remembered for defeating Rangers 2-1 to lift the Challenge Cup in 1971. One memorable moment was when with scores at 2-1,the Flying Antelopes were awarded a penalty. The unexpected happened.
Rangers captain, Godwin Achebe, who had never missed a penalty kick, was demystified by keeper Amusa Adisa. The day surely belonged to Lekan Salami as his joy knew no bounds. Skipper Dejo Fayemi led the likes of Niyi Akande, Nathaniel Adewole and Dauda Adepoju to the podium.
By 1955, the WNDC top shot was a member of the Ibadan Divisional Football Association [IDFA]. In 1974, he became Chairman, Western State Football Association and led Shooting Stars to another Challenge Cup grand finale, in 1975. The name had changed to Industrial Investment Credit Corporation [IICC].
Rangers avenged the 1971 defeat, thanks to Keneth Abana’s goal. Like Achebe in 1971, he missed a penalty. That loss turned out to be a blessing in disguise to IICC. Rangers emerged double champions. They chose the CAF Champions’ League, leaving Shooting Stars to register for the Winners Cup.
Shooting Stars won the Cup after trouncing Tonnerre Kalara 4-2 aggregate. The Camerounians had Roger MIlla as their hit man. They could not threaten Best Ogedegbe who conceded just a goal in Yaounde after the 4-1 first leg.
Many remember Chief Salami warning Odegbami: “ Segun ‘ soot, soot Suku mbo” [Segun take a shot, Christian Chukwu is coming] in one of those super games involving the elite sides. Chukwu and Odegbami remain the best of friends. The chief died on March 13, 1988.
Shooting Stars went ahead to win the first CAF cup in 1992. They could not win the CAF Champions League in 1984. They also could not in 1996. Chief Salami was Honorary Patron of Rangers, Kenya Breweries and Tanzania’s Simba, respectively
