Peter Osugo rose from outstanding athlete at St. Gregory’s College, Lagos to Team Manager of the Green Eagles. He was also a powerful Editor. That job made him come out with a screaming headline: ‘The Ezes are dangerous.’
In 1971, Godwin Ogbueze captained Nigerian school boys, known as Academicals against their Ghanaian counterparts in a two -leg duel.He had as team mates, Clement Okwufulueze and Dominic Ezeani.
One common denominator was Eze, the three star players Ogbueze, Okwufulueze and Ezeani had it in their names. Eze is the Igbo word for King. Ogbueze and Okwufulueze made the Ghanaians looks so ordinary with mesmerising skills. Ezeani stood like Olumo Rock in the defence.
Osugo, writing for Daily Times as PECOS (coined from his name Peter Chukwuma Osugo) went to press with the catchy caption. Ogbueze means killer of King. Okwufulueze is like one who earns the King’s respect. Ezeani stands for King of the Land.
Veteran broadcaster Nkem Osu captured it. “Late Peter Osugo (Pecos), then Sports Editor of the Daily Times was amazed by the exploits of the trio who tormented their Ghanaian counterparts. So he coined the headline, ” The Ezes are dangerous.”
There were other gifted players on the Nigerian side. Christian Chukwu, Patrick Ekeji, Emilio John, Tunde Martins, Marcellus Obinatu and Kenneth Ilodigwe, all showed class.
Osugo died on January 24, 2022 at 94. He is best remembered as the man who rechristened the the senior national team , Green Eagles in 1960. The old name was Red Devils. Left back, Fabian Duru was first captain of the Green Eagles and last captain of the Red Devils.
Prof. Sam Akpabot who played for Kings College, Lagos while Osugo shone at St. Greg’s said in 1983, ” Osugo was a very influential sports columnist in the Daily Times and later the West African Pilot in the 1950s and 1960s.”
As Team Manager, Osugo was as shocked as Kenneth Olayombo who was sent off by the referee in Lome for an offence committed by goalkeeper Inua Rigogo.
It was Olayombo’s debut in 1966. The Green Eagles were leading 2-1 in a Mexico ’68 Olympics qualifier. The referee awarded a dubious goal to Togo. Rigogo went wild and dazed the man. The ref. saw stars and thought it was Olayombo. CAF banned the debutant for three years.
Osugo assured Olayombo that the decision would not stand. And it did not. Nigeria appealed the ban. CAF reduced it to three months. The striker made it to Mexico and scored a brace against Brazil.
In 1988, Admiral Augustus Aikhomu renamed the team Super Eagles. The Flying Eagles got a new name from Isaac Akioye in 1977. They were known as Junior Eagles. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari turned Baby Eagles to World Golden Eaglets in 1985.
Of the the Eze Academicals, only Ezeani made it to the senior national team. He won All Africa Games gold with the Green Eagles in 1973. His World Cup dream was deflated by the Black Stars of Ghana a month after that golden moment.
The Ezes once played against themselves. Ogbueze captained East Central State Academicals against Mid- Western State, led by Okwufulueze. Ezeani was Ogbueze’s team mate and their team won 2-0 in a Manuwa/ Adebajo Cup game decided at the Onikan Waterfront, Lagos in 1971.
According to Osu, “at the end of the game, Okwufulueze walked up to Ogbueze and jokingly said, ‘una use veteran soldiers beat us today, no problems. You guys were good. You really lived up to your name as King killer”.
Ogbueze and his team mates had seen war as Biafrans and fought. Ogbueze was of the Commando Strike Force that did battle against Benjamin Adekunle’s Third Marine Commandos in Ogoja.
The Easterners had Christian Chukwu, Patrick Ekeji, Alex Nwosu, Damian Odo, Tony Uzoka, Obed Ariri, Johnny Azinge, Kenneth Ilodigwe, Innocent Nwokeji and Chike Ikebuaku, among others.
Ogbueze led the St. Theresa’s Nsukka team that lost to Ekeji’s Holy Ghost College, Owerri in the East Central State finals. Chukwu came from National Grammar School, Nike. Ezeani made the team from Christ the King College, Onitsha.
Ezeani was well known to the Mid-Westerners. He crossed over to Onitsha from St. Anthony’s College, Ubulu-Uku. “One Mr.Cyril Offor, who hailed from Agulu ( Ezeani’s home town) in present Anambra State and a French teacher at Anglican Grammar School, Ubulu-Uku ( Okwufulueze’s Alma Mater) facilitated the (transfer) as it were”, Osu said.
Mid-West was full of stars. Okwufulueze was Sports Prefect at Anglican Grammar School and lived in Osamor House. After his School Certificate exams in 1969, he moved to Hussey College, Warri for Higher School.
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Ubulu- Uku rivals, St. Anthony’s College were Mid-West champions in 1969 after defeating Notre Dame College Ozoro, 2-0 in Benin. The winners had Raph Uwaechue, from Ogwashi-Uku in goal. Achilles Onwuenweuzor, from Ute, Paul Ogbue from Ezi, Romanus Nwani, from Issele-Uku and Asaba Boy, Anthony Okonkwo, were all in the team.
At Hussey College, Okwufulueze got lucky as he led them to win the Principal’s Cup in 1971. Losers, by 3-2, were Notre Dame, Ozoro. The Warri boys included Patrick Adinkwe, Patrick Ezeocha and Uwaechue.
One account says Okwufulueze was at Edo College, Benin briefly with Sunny Izevbigie and Damian Ogunsuyi.
The Ezes and all their colleagues also adopted nicknames. Ogbueze chose Pele. Ezeani was Hugo Harris. Okwufulueze became Picolo. Ekeji went for Power House, Nwokeji, Trigger.Uwaechue was called Joe Bastic. Ezeocha loved Emperor Wahehe.
Adinkwe was School Boy. Ogbue picked Planner. Okonkwo was called Buddy Holy, Ilodigwe’s was just Kendo. Chukwu had not been appointed Chairman.
Paul ‘Planner’ Ogbue later married Austin Okocha’s elder sister. Another Okocha is married to a former school boy star, Chuka Iwobi who also played for Vasco Da Gama. He is the father of Alex Iwobi.
After School, Ogbueze and Ezeani played and won trophies with Enugu Rangers. Okwufulueze, a star sprinter and hurdler, joined Nigeria Airways, the Sky Power Boys. The trio traveled to the United States in 1975 and are still there.
Ogbueze has a son Godwin. Ezeani’s son is named Dominic. He plays basketball, like his brother Jason. Braxton Ogbueze played basketball for the Nigerian national team, D’Tigers.
