![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: EZIDINMA’S DIRE DAWA DEBUT")
Professor Sadiq Abdullahi was one of the kings of Nigerian tennis courts in the 1980s. In those good old days, there were as many tournaments as there were stars. Top players from around the globe were visible in the country.
Abdullahi is a complete homeboy and is driving a huge project to bring tennis back to life. Then Michael Mmoh happened. Suddenly that feeling of yore when Nduka Odizor, David Imonitie, Tony Mmoh and Sadiq reigned, crept back.
Michael Mmoh was largely unknown in Nigeria until he sent Number 12 seed, Alexander Zverev of Germany packing in the Second Round of the Australian Open.
Mmoh is the son of Tony Mmoh. His spectacular show in Melbourne brought hope alive. Sadiq’s Tennis Vision 2035 is about to take off and the University of Florida University teacher is not looking back.
Tennis Vision 2035 is all about taking the game from the grassroots to the top. It is a programme built around education with the aim of pushing out future stars. Sadiq is partnering with former soccer international, Chief Segun Odegbami.
Honestly, Mmoh has come out at the right time. Soccer loving Nigerians have given up on the Super Eagles whose best has sent many heart attack cases to the hospital bed.
Anything outside soccer is good news. Tobi Amusan has become the face of sports, after her splendid run at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The first Nigerian champion in Athletics also retained her Commonwealth 400 metres Hurdles gold.
I did not know much about Tony Mmoh until Sadiq reminded me last year after I did a story of Nigerians representing other countries at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The veteran tennis star said: “In other sports like Tennis, Michael Mmoh had the opportunity to represent Saudi Arabia and Nigeria but chose USA. This is an area we need to explore. It will help our overall efforts to raise the standard of sports in our country.”
Sadiq has been in contact with government and politicians. He believes sports should be used to keep the younger generation away from temptation especially now that insecurity has become a colossal threat.
In soccer, it is easy to identify with Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Peter Rufai and Daniel Amokachi. Tennis does not have that luxury. Nduka Odizor may be largely unknown because his Wimbledon show happened forty years ago.
Odizor, proudly called The Duke, got to the quarter finals of Wimbledon in 1983. He made headlines for eliminating Number 4 seed Guillermo Villas of Argentina. In 1984, the Nigerian was ranked No. 52 in the world. Till date, no compatriot has done better than that.
Sadiq was at the Seoul ’88 Olympic Games and 1989 American Open. Mmoh Senior took part in the US Open in 1985, Wimbledon, 1985 and French Open in 1988.
I wondered if Tony Mmoh ever graced the Australian Open as a player. Sadiq was there to convince me that Mmoh played in the men’s double with Odizor.
Michael Mmoh’s mother, Geraldine O Reilly was born in Ireland but is also Australian. The Aussie luck is following the young man. He had beaten a different Zverev, (Mischa) at the Brisbane International tournament in 2018, in his first career ATP appearance.
At the 2020 Australian Open, Mmoh recorded his first main draw victory. In 2021, the man that beat him, Rafael Nadal, is one of the faces of modern tennis, so there was everything to be proud of.
Tony Mmoh was ranked 105 in the world. His son is ranked 107 but has more active years ahead. Chief Benson Ezeibe, a popular Tennis sponsor believes the younger Mmoh will hit the 40 bracket in future.
Mmoh Senior played good football, enough to be invited by the Socceroos. He chose Tennis and that gave him a wife in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. There, Michael was born in 1998.
I am sure he will follow his dad back to Enugu someday. His presence will lift Sadiq’s Tennis Vision 2035. The younger ones will use him as reference point any time they train.
Tennis was so popular in Nigeria in the Odizor- Mmoh- Sadiq years. Before them, we saw names like Thompson Onibokun, Lawrence Awopegba, Yemisi Allan, Gabriel Odudu and Elizabeth Ekong.
The next decade came with Sule Ladipo, Yakubu Suleiman, Paul Areh, Gabriel Otu, Rotimi Jegede, Nnamdi Ehirim, Clara
Udofia, Osaro Amadin and the Okpala Sisters, Tanya and Katia.
Tournaments were legion. One could move from Ogbe Hard Court to Dala Hard Court. NICON would be on and players would be preparing for the next one, maybe, Gulder, Okada or Unipetrol.
There were sponsors. Unipetrol under Alhaji Yusuf Ali was Tennis friendly and even after him the ties continued. Udofia was sponsored to Junior Wimbledon in 1994.
She was sent to Nick Bolletieri Academy for four months through an agreement between Godwin Kienka Academy and Prince, a manufacturing company based in the United States.
Nick Bolletieri Academy prepared stars like Monica Seles, Jim Courier and Andre Agassi for the future. Kienka had upcoming winners under his care.
Multi millionaires supported Tennis. Lord Rumens, real name Alhaji Olatunji Ajisomo Alabi, Alhaji Lateef Adejumo, and Chief Molade Okoya Thomas were readily available to support the stars.
I had friends who told fascinating stories about tennis. Banji Ola, Emma Molokwu, Onochie Anibeze, Tijani Ahmed Shuaibu and I guess, Chima Okoro.
Banji bought a Datsun Coupe and drove it to Benin in 1992. It was during the Okada Tourney. He came back with a cassette of beautiful Spanish songs. It was a gift from Odizor. One of the stars in Okada Town was Paul Haarhuis.
In 1994, there was the Vibon Veetee Championships sponsored by Chief Vivi Oruche, the big merchant behind Yago wine. I recall a chat with him in his Opebi Ikeja office where he told me that he played soccer but tennis had become first love.
More Mmohs are coming. Prof. Sadiq Abdullahi is homeward bound. Charity begins at home. Meanwhile our top girl, Oyinlomo Quadre has joined the lecturer at Florida International University.
Arthur Ashe visited Nigeria in 1976. Sadiq was one of the boys who picked his balls. Venus and Serena Williams came around. They had a sister named Yetunde. There is something here for good. Tennis Vision 2035 will make things happen, again.
