Donald Igwebuike broke into the Green Eagles squad in 1978, months after debuting for Enugu Rangers. Manager, Father Tiko was thrilled but all that turned sour when the teenager’s dad ordered him out of camp, with immediate effect.
Igwebuike adopted Stone as nickname right from primary school at St. Mary’s, Uwani, Enugu. Some of his peers knew that the only force that could break Stone was the man who brought him into the world.
“I was invited to Green Eagles camp by Father Tiko, after a few months with Enugu Rangers in 1978. My dad was not thrilled about my soccer career and ordered me to leave and get ready for my SAT exams”, Igwebuike, who resides in the United States told me.
He made it to America in 1980 where Clemson University offered him scholarship. The young man did not depart from the round leather game. From soccer, Igwebuike veered into American football and made it, big time.
“Transformation from soccer to American football started at Clemson University, South Carolina. I had a full athletic scholarship (soccer) in 1980. I played only soccer for Clemson in 1980.
“In 1981, a friend of mine, Obed Ariri convinced me to take his position on Clemson’s American football team since he had graduated and was waiting for National Football League ( NFL) draft”, Igwebuike said.
Yes, did take time to become response, a call facilitated it all. Ariri played in Nigeria as captain of Vasco da Gama, Enugu.
“I told Obed I would think about it. Later I received a call from the football coach and was offered another scholarship for American football.
“I ended up playing both soccer and American football for Clemson University. In 1985, I was drafted by Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL.”
Igwebuike made a name for himself as an outstanding kicker and moved on to play in Canada. It was not a bed of roses all through because challenges came, especially because of his generosity.
In the bid to help as many friends to move over to the US, one of them fell foul of the law. Igwebuike went through nightmares as a result but eventually he was found innocent.
We talked about the 20 years he spent in Nigeria before journeying abroad where he became famous. At 61, Igwebuike remains a home boy.
“The nickname Stone came around 1970. St. Barth’s (Asata), Enugu was a dominant school in soccer in the early 1970s and in 1972, my school, St. Mary’s, Uwani ended up playing them.
“St. Barth’s had known players like Achonwu Obasi and Augustine Okolo. My team mates were scared but I made them understand that the opponent could only use 11 players at a time. I don’t worry about names.”
Igwebuike caged Obasi and Okolo. St. Mary’s gained the upper hand and the name on everyone’s lips was, Stone.
He started winning medals early. At the First National Sports Festival, Lagos ’73, the boy was in the East Central State Junior team, ably managed by Chukwuma ‘Its a goal’ Igweonu. They bagged silver.
At the All Nigeria Schools Festival, 1976, in Enugu, Igwebuike won gold with Anambra State. The same result was achieved in the intermediate category at the Third National Sports Festival, Kaduna ’77.
He describes Rangers’ loss to AS Police of Senegal in the finals of the 1979 WAFU Cup as his most memorable game.
Rangers had beaten the Senegalese 2-1 in Dakar after a barren draw in Lagos, on their way to African Winners Cup victory in 1977. It was expected that AS Police would fall again.
The Flying Antelopes began well and won all their away matches in previous rounds. Requins of Benin Republic fell 3-1, thanks to goals by Patrick Ekeji, Chimezie Ngadi and Sunday Nwokocha. Rangers beat them 2-0 in Lagos. Ngadi scored again. Christian Chukwu made it two.
Stella of Abidjan came in the semi finals and Ifeanyi Onyedika’s brace gave the visitors a 2-0 advantage. That was after the Ivorians lost 3-1 in Lagos with goals coming from Chukwu, Onyedika and Sam Igwenagu respectively.
In the 1979 WAFU Cup, the first leg of the finals was played in Lagos on January 12, 1980. Rangers players like Chukwu, Ekeji, Emmanuel Okala, Aloysius Atuegbu and Adokiye Amiesimaka, were with the Green Eagles in Brazil preparing for the African Nations Cup.
The Flying Antelopes did not have a substantive coach. Okala refused to return with the other Rangers players. The first leg in Lagos ended 1-1.
Before the return leg in Dakar, the Eagles had come back from their Rio Grande Naval Station camp in Rio de Janeiro. Otto Gloria was their new coach after Carl O’Dwyer, Godwin Etemike and Isaac Nnado were sidelined.
Otto Gloria came with an assistant, Carlos Alberto Parreira and fitness trainer, Rao Carlesso.
Parreira was seconded to Rangers by the NFA. Strangely, the same NFA failed to get him a visa to Senegal. Rangers flew to Dakar without a coach. Right back, Ekeji became coach and player.
AS Police retained the Cup. They lifted the trophy in 1976. In the quarter finals, they eliminated Water Corporation, Ibadan 8-7 penalties after aggregate scores stood at 1-1.
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Parreira was given high marks by Rangers players and Ekeji hinted the sports authorities. Otto Gloria became jealous and frustrated both Ekeji and Parreira out of the Green Eagles.
Otto Gloria won the African Nations Cup in 1980 but could not take the same team to the España ’82 World Cup. Parreira moved to Kuwait, won the Asian Cup and qualified the country for the 1982 World Cup.
Parreira became a World Cup winner, with Brazil in 1994. Otto Gloria’s best was bronze medal with Portugal at the England ’66 World Cup. Parreira took five countries to the World Cup. Kuwait, 1982, UAE, 1990, Brazil, 1994, Saudi Arabia, 1998 and South Africa, 2010.
Parreira began as a Fitness Trainer at Cristavao, Brazil in 1967 before doing the same job at Vasco da Gama in 1969. Ekeji played for Vasco da Gama, Enugu from 1972 to 1977.
Igwebuike did not play in Brazil but Brazil ‘peppered’ him.
He said : “My worst experience was playing against Fluminense of Brazil in Lagos, in 1978. Those guys were so skillful and we lost 3-1.”
Igwebuike’s son, Donald (Junior) played football as a student but did not take it farther. His nephew, Godwin plays in the NFL for Detroit Lions. Grandpa who decamped Donald from Eagles camp, ‘ played a little bit but nothing on a clubside level.’
Igwebuike is still in love with the Coal City team and heads the Rangers Veterans Association in the United States.
“It is an honour to wear that white jersey and I thank God for the opportunities I had to play both soccer and American football professionally,” he summed up.