![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)
Catch the bug if you can. Lagos will never be the same again as deep pocket, Shola Akinlade, moves his Paystack into sports beginning with soccer.
It is a matter of time before the best legs in football embark on a voyage to join Sporting Lagos Football Club. We are talking of the new team in town, set up in 2022 and ready to go places.
Akinlade, a Software engineer is the co- founder and Chief Executive Officer of Paystack. He is channeling his millions to football development. Sporting Lagos have picked a place in the Nigerian National League. One more step, they will hit the Premier League.
Paystack was bought in 2020 for 200 million dollars by Stripe. Sporting Lagos is a multi billion naira venture that will banish poverty and help talented players live their dream.
It is a shame that what we call Premier League in Nigeria leaves players begging for food like destitutes. Some of the clubs do not pay salaries. Many of them are used by politicians to buga.
How can one explain that promises made to Enugu Rangers for winning the League and Challenge have not been fully settled. Plateau United were also promised every beautiful thing in Jos and beyond when they lifted the league. The story today is that the players have the ugliest pockets.
Welcome Akinlade. Bravo Sporting Lagos. Things are happening in the South -West. We also have Kunle Soname doing wonders with Remo United of Ikenne, where football is served in Golden dishes. There are no beggars in Remo.
Akinlade, a 2006 Computer Science graduate of Babcock University, Ilishan – Remo has the spirit of giving. He has been influenced by his spiritual academic background.
Babcock belongs to the Seventh – Day Adventist Church. The young man attended St. Gregory’s College, Obalende, Lagos, an elite Roman Catholic school.
I am sure the story of Sporting Lagos has been coloured with the pedigree of St. Greg’s. The immediate past principal, Rev. Edmund Apala was an outstanding athlete. He played alongside Patrick Ekeji, one of the Green Eagles that qualified for the Montreal ’76 Olympic Games.
Ekeji began with Vasco Da Gama, Enugu before crossing over to Rangers. He missed the 1976 and 1978 African Nations Cup because a particular lecturer at the University of Nigeria Nsukka was bent on failing him if the star did not attend classes regularly.
Ekeji later bagged a post graduate degree in Germany, managed teams like Diamond of Sierra Leone, UNTL Kaduna, ACB Lagos before leading the Green Eagles briefly in 1986.
St. Greg’s and sports are like six and half a dozen. Rafiu Adio Oluwa was in the first Nigeria team to the Olympics, Helsinki ’52, as a sprinter. The first Sports minister, Modupe Johnson (JMJ ) was a Gregorian.
Anthony Omoera was principal of the school between 1977 and 1992. He was a member of the Nigeria Football Association. I do not know of any principal that can achieve that today.
Omoera was so respected that he headed Nigerian delegations. I met him in 1991 when he led BCC Lions to defend their African Winners Cup title against Power Dynamos of Zambia.
The man was a delight to stay with. The stories did not end and I learnt a lot. The trip took us from Lagos to Accra, to Harare and Lusaka.
The team flew Ghana Airways and the connection from Accra to Harare was because President Robert Mugabe’s first wife, Sally, was a Ghanaian. It was a five – hour trip. We spent one night in Harare before flying Zimbabwe Air to Lusaka.
Omoera was lovely with jokes. To get to Lusaka, we flew past Harare, only to fly back to the Zambian capital. Of course, Ghana Airways had no business with Zambia. The Zimbabwean pilots did not make us comfortable.
Omoera encouraged us saying that they could be learning to perfect their skills. On that flight was a Zambian Airforce officer, who followed us from Lagos. He was in Nigeria for training. We laughed about trainee pilots.
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Omoera was a proud representative of St. Greg’s. The Nigerian High Commissioner to Zambia, Lawrence Agubuzu was impressed. The Defence Adviser to the Nigerian High Commission in Harare, Col. Gabriel Kpamber acknowledged it.
Akinlade did not meet Omoera, he may not know Patrick Ekeji but the Remo man is selling St. Greg’s one more time to lovers of sports across the country and even beyond.
Lagos will come back to life. The earliest football teams owned by individuals first birthed in the town.
In 1938, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe set up the Zik’s Athletics Club ( ZAC )comprising three football teams, Bombers, Spitfire and Hurricane. ZAC won the country’s first national soccer trophy, the War Memorial Cup in 1942.
Zik played for Lagos Diamonds in 1923 and also starred for his team. An all rounder, the journalist turned politician built the Sabo Stadium, Yaba in 1940.
Some prominent ZAC Bombers were Dan Anyiam, Carl ‘ Gentleman’s O’ Dwyer ( I guess he was the father of broadcaster, Joan O’Dwyer ), Thomas Adisa ( Addis Ababa), Daniel Okosa, Sonny Wokoma, Vidal George, Phil Akor, Bob Nwangoro and Albert Osakwe.
Akinlade, unlike Soname, does not have a stadium yet for Sporting Lagos. They use the Teslim Balogun Stadium as home ground. I am sure the Lagos club will in the near future, find home.
There were other clubs owned by individuals in Lagos. W.H. Biney had Biney’s Eleven. E. B. Silva Eleven and Ekang Eleven sprang up too.
The greatest of them all was Stationery Stores, founded by Israel Adebajo in 1958. Ten years later, they became the first Nigerian club to go international, debuting in the CAF Champions League.
That was the club of Sam Opone, Tony Igwe, Peter Anieke, Austine Ofuokwu, Peter Fregene and Fred Aryee ( Baba Ali).
Outside Lagos, we had Ikpeazu Redoubtables, Onitsha sponsored by Justice Chuba Ikpeazu, father of beauty queen Linda Ikpeazu. Two prominent players, Sebastine Bridericks and Paul Hamilton emerged from there .
Ikpeazu, who later became a three – time chairman of the NFA once rewarded the players with brand new bicycles for qualifying for the semi finals of the Challenge Cup.
In the 1970s, there was Alyufsalam Rocks of Ilorin, owned by Alhaji Yusuf Salami. They played in the grand finale of the Challenge Cup in 1976, parading 10 Ghanaians and one Nigerian, Humphrey Okechukwu.
Salami raided Koly Park, in the Sabon Zongo area of Accra to recruit players. There were Skipper Owura Agyei, Ahmed Nalado and Charles Tetteh, among others.
Chimezie ‘Watch me’ Ngadi’s brace gave Enugu Rangers a 2-0 victory. The Flying Antelopes won their third consecutive Challenge Cup. That record still stands. Okechukwu joined the Coal City Boys after that final. The Ilorin Ghanaians each got Vespa scooter.
With Akinlade, one should expect samba music from Sporting Lagos. St. Greg’s churned out classy musicians. Victor Uwaifo was also a national High Jump silver medalist. Then came Ofege in the 1970s with Wizzy Labo.
