![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-1-200x150.jpeg "SPORTSFLAKES: ANYAFO : WHY I ARRESTED ODEGBAMI")
Shooting Stars were good enough for the elite African Cup for Champion Clubs (today’s CAF Champions League) in 1977. As reigning African Winners Cup champions and Nigerian League title holders, the road to the top was smooth. They chose not to go for the big one.
The Oluyole Warriors played big brother, handed over the top ticket to sister club, Water Corporation ( Asejire Babes) and went to defend the African Winners Cup which was not as valued as the Champions League.
Unfortunately, Shooting lost their title to more seasoned continental fighters Enugu Rangers and water crashed out in the quarter finals to Hafia, Guinea, conquerors of Rangers in the 1975 Champions League finals and African champions in 1972 and 1975 respectively.
Rangers and Shooting were in prime position to win the two trophies in Africa in 1977. The Ibadan side retained their 1976 Winners Cup side. The Flying Antelopes injected fresh blood from the Christ the King College (CKC) Onitsha, world schools champions.
Water Corporation got as far as the quarter finals in the Champions League and were sent packing by Hafia who went ahead to win the cup. The Guineans were not as good as the 1975 team and would have been beaten by Shooting.
The Hafia team that won the cup in 1977 had a very blunt attack. None of their players scored more than a goal all through the championship. Shooting still had Segun Odegbami and Moses Otolorin, who between them, scored 15 of the 16 goals recorded in the 1976 successful campaign.
The Asejire Babes did pull weight especially in their debut against Simba, Tanzania. After a barren outing at home, Water beat the Leopards 1-0 at away. And the Nigerians were the only ones who put four goals past Hafia. It ended 4-2 in Lagos before the eventual champions won 3-0 in Conakry.
Rangers had offered Shooting the golden opportunity to become African Winners Cup champions in 1976. The Coal City Boys were double champions in 1975 and chose to go for the Champions League in 1976. That paved way for the Oluyole Warriors who lost in the 1975 FA Cup grand finale to earn a second continental ticket.
Water were not as water tight as Shooting even if they finished behind their city rivals in the 1976 National League.
They had players who made waves. Captain Aina Salimon, keeper Rasaki Fadare, George Okolie, Anthony Edwards, Charles Kuranteng, Segun Fawunmi and Kayode Balogun were local heroes.
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Zakari John, Sina Fagbemi, Yinusa Bolarinwa, Tunde Ojingolo, Thomas Bamigboye, Godwin Tialobi, Emeka Onwuachi, Baba Ibrahim, Kunle Falana, Ali Zakari, Albert Adetutu, Martin Onwuachi, Adebowale Jacobs, Sam Asaolu, Femi Bilewemo, Sule Olaoye and goalie Ismaila Kukula were not in the class of Best Ogedegbe, Phillip Boamah, Kunle Awesu or Muda Lawal.
Shooting Stars never recovered from the lost opportunity of 1977. In 1978, they played again in the African Winners Cup but were a shadow of themselves. Their conquerors were another Guinean side, Horoya, in the Second Round.
The Asejire Babes fizzled out and would later disappear from the football map. Many of them found their way to Shooting Stars and never achieved anything commendable in soccer.
To show that Hafia were not wonderful in 1977 even if they ended up as CAF Champions League winners, they ran away when asked to play Rangers in what would have been the first African Super Cup in 1978.
The Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) invited winners of the Africa Cup for Champion Clubs, 1977 and champions of the African Winners Cup, 1977 to Libreville to settle scores.
President Omar Bongo of Gabon donated a trophy. Rangers arrived. Hafia promised to make it. Africa waited. The Guineans chickened out. Rangers were given a Gabonese Selected. The Nigerians triumphed 5-2.
Shooting were as good as Rangers in 1977 and good enough as African champions. However, they failed to look at the bigger picture and dashed Water their future.
That judgmental error is still haunting the Oluyole Warriors. They are the only Nigerian side to have won two different continental titles, the African Winners Cup and the CAF Cup. Shooting also have the WAFU Cup in their profile.
The big one, the CAF Champions League continues to elude them. Twice they got so close to the title, in 1984 and in 1996, twice they lost, to the same club, Zamalek.
Shooting Stars always come out with funny stories in the competition. In 1984, after beating Tonnere Kalara 4-0 in Ibadan, the Cameroonians cancelled all four goals in Yaounde.
It took penalty kicks to save the day, on a day Club legend, Chief Lekan Salami found himself in the loo and stayed put long after the match had been concluded. Tension. A search party had to be organised.
In 1984, it was Ogbein Fawole’s own goal. And the team was disbanded by governor Oladayo Popoola in what became Odegbami’s last game. Leading scorer, Felix Owolabi was on the bench, helpless.
Gabonese referee, Jean Fidel Diramba made sure Owoblow missed the game, no thanks to a second yellow card in the Cairo first leg against Zamalek.
The last time Shooting Stars played in the Champions League was 1999. And they finished last in their Group A that had Raja, Al Ahli and Hearts of Oak.
Their new main man, Governor Seyi Makinde must know this background. Shooting, under him have just come back to life. They are going for the Premier League title.
Fela sang, ‘wateeer e no get enemy’. Perhaps Shooting should remind the Asejire Mermaid that the Oluyole Warriors are ready to return to Africa. Mr. Governor, Adamasingba will remain dry until another trophy lands in your territory.
