Calabar hosted the first soccer match in Nigeria in 1904 when students of Hope Waddell Institute beat British sailors from HMS Thistle 3-2. That was an international game. Unfortunately, no football team from the same town ever went international.
Calabar Rovers would have flown Nigeria’s flag in the 1986 edition of the WAFU Cup. That dream faded away after Shooting Stars of Ibadan walked away from the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium Abidjan 24 minutes into a semi finals clash with hosts Africa Sports.
The Oluyole Warriors had won the first leg 2-0 in Ibadan and when the Ivorians went one goal up in the return leg under intimidating atmosphere, the game came to an abrupt end. The visitors saw it as crowd invasion. WAFU overruled Shooting and kicked them out.
The Nigeria Football Association dared WAFU and pulled out of the Sub Regional body. It was a cowardly decision that meant Rovers who were billed to represent the country in the same competition in 1986, missed a life long opportunity to go international.
That hasty decision by the NFA also denied New Nigeria Bank (NNB) Benin the golden opportunity of being the first to win the WAFU Cup for keeps. The Bankers had won in 1983 defeating Sekondi Hasaacas of Ghana in the finals and retained the trophy in 1984 after trouncing Stade Malien in the finals.
In 1985, NNB were in the semi finals before the NFA blunder. If Nigeria had not pulled out, the Benin team under coach Willy Bazuaye, were set to win again. That was the team of Stephen Keshi, Henry Nwosu, Sunday Eboigbe, Humphrey Edobor, Bright Omokaro, Wilfred Agbonavbare, Amos Edoseghe, Samson Ozogula, Austin Popo, Edema Benson, Lawrence Orairo and Peter Yeboah.
From that miss, Rovers continued moving backwards. The team was once disbanded for allowing a scandalous result in the league. The club also went on relegation. Today, former Nigeria international, Etta Egbe, is trying to bring them back to life.
For a club that once paraded one of Nigeria’s most successful internationals, Finidi George, it is sad. This team haboured stars like Charles Bassey, James Etokebe, Uwem Ekarika, Ben Nwosu, Aniedi Dickson, Ene Okon and Etim Esin.
Rovers also had some of the best brains. Isong Isang studied Pharmacy at the University of Benin and was a strong force in students union politics. Celestine Nzekwe, graduated from the University of Calabar and because he knew his rights they called him professor.
There is no talking football without Calabar. Orok Oyo who was born in Duke Town in 1922 was the first Nigerian member of the FIFA Executive Committee. He was there for eight years, 1980-1988. He was a three-time scribe of the NFA and the longest serving Secretary General, 1965-1974. Oyo was known as Mr. Football.
Efiom Okon served as NFA boss twice and was also Secretary General at a time. This stood him out as the only one who functioned in both capacities although he could not advance to CAF and FIFA like his kinsman Orok Oyo.
READ ALSO: Bandits Kill 18 As Troops Neutralise Bandits –Commissioner
Hope Waddell Institute produced the first Nigerian president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. That is also the background of the first Nigerian governor of the Eastern Region, Dr. Akanu Ibiam. Both men took their football to Lagos and shone.
Zik played for Diamond FC in 1923 and his own Zik Athletic Club(ZAC) Bombers in 1938. Ibiam captained the Kings College soccer squad. The duo were into other sports. Zik played Tennis, went into boxing, athletics and swimming. Ibiam chose cricket.
Players from the Calabar area began to flood Lagos and even had two teams in the early Lagos League. There were names like Etim Henshaw, Edet Ben, Mesembe Otu, Bassey Utit, Michael Ani ( yes the FEDECO Chairman), Iron Bar, Ekpeyong Iso, Nya Nya Udo and Edet Wey ( the same Wey of the Navy who later became Chief of Staff Supreme Head quarters under Gen. Yakubu Gowon).
It is remarkable that the first time a Nigerian national soccer team traveled abroad to play, the skipper of the UK Tourists, 1949 was Etim Richard Henshaw from the Calabar area which includes today’s Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. When the Green Eagles’ debuted at the African Nations Cup, Ghana ‘ 63, their captain was Asuquo Ekpe from the same part of the country.
One cannot forget the magic feet of School Boys from St. Patrick’s College, Calabar who took the nation by storm, winning the Challenge Cup in 1954. And one of them, Hamilton Ihenacho, was named Wonder Boy. Other stars included goalie Brendan John, Francis Bassey, Cyril Anyanwu, Hubert Ejoh and Emma Okoro.
Calabar got a modern stadium and during the opening ceremony in 1976, Enugu Rangers hammered Roger Milla and his Tonnere Kalara of Yaounde, Cameroon 5-1. That same arena which was renamed U.J. Esuene Stadium has also hosted the Super Eagles and Enyimba.
What Calabar could not achieve is happening in Uyo. Akwa United have played several international matches and are well known as CAF Confederation Cup participants. Their chairman, Paul Bassey, was at the University of Calabar.
Shooting Stars, African Winners Cup Champions in 1976 and CAF Cup winners in 1992 are bent on bouncing back to the Premier League. Rovers have not recovered from that 1986 failed ticket.
