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Eke, YSFON And Grassroots Football

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I have not seen any Nigerian dead or alive, who had painstakingly devoted his entire life to the development of youth football than Tony Eke. He was excellent and elegant, a complete football aficionado of extraordinary savvy. He combined a rare administrative ingenuity in football management with patriotic fervor in raising the standard of football from grassroots level and became an apostle of youth soccer development in the last five decades in Nigeria.
No one could fault Tony Eke’s genuine love for youth football development programme right from his childhood days in Ajegunle, the cradle of modern day footballers. He got involved in football matters as a teenager in 1965 when Youth Sport Federation of Apapa (YSFA) was formed by Chief Israel Adebajo, who was also the founder of the famous Stationery Stores Football Club of Lagos as a breeding ground for the would-be Lagos darling club.
Tony was in his early 20’s when the likes of Avi Awotoro and Sam Nwobum were being urged to sign for Stores, but it was only petit Awotoro that was preferred to the bulky, stout and lanky Nwobum. At that period, YSFA was firmly under the supervision of former Nigeria national team manager, Major Ibikunle Armstrong, an indigene of Ilaro in Ogun State, whilst millionaire business Kano-born Garba Nautan Hamza was the chairman. Patiently but painstakingly, Tony Eke learnt the ropes and became a popular figure in football circles in Lagos State, making Ajegunle his base for youth soccer revolution.
At the age of 19 in 1970, Tony Eke had already become familiar with some top brass of the Nigeria Military like Col.Sule Apollo, Major-General Joseph Garba and General Benjamin Adekunle, who had been keeping the youth club going, since the death of Mr Israel Adebajo in 1969. The trio formed a remarkable partnership with Garba Hamza from early 1970 till 1976 when the military coup that toppled General Murtala Mohammed began to have adverse effect on the day-to-day running as financial straits crippled the activities of the body.
Imbued with a burning patriotic fervor, Tony Ossai Eke, a young Nigerian of Delta State extraction, born in 1950 in the heart of Ajegunle, in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government of Lagos State, took up the challenge to expand the financial base of YSFA when he approached the management of VONO Nigeria Ltd to sponsor the first RAMAT Cup in Lagos State in 1977. The request was granted and Lagos was privileged to host the maiden edition of General Murtala Ramat Mohammed U-16 Boys soccer championship at St. Gregory’s College, Obalende, where Chief M.K.O. Abiola, a personal friend of Murtala Mohammed replaced the trophy and took over sponsorship of the yearly RAMAT Cup till 1994, even while in detention mid-way.
It would be pertinent to recall that Tony Eke was the brain behind the transformation of a local football outfit to national spotlight when YSFA (Youth Sport Federation of Apapa) became YSFON (Youth Sport Federation of Nigeria) in 1980.
For the first time, the RAMAT Cup was played in Kano and had eight (8) states from the Federation participating at Sabon Gari Stadium, Kano, it was during that tournament that Tony Eke mooted the idea of changing YSFA to YSFON in order to reflect national outlook. It is also of interest that Tony Eke initiated the moves that culminated into the appointment of Prince Dokun Danquah Abidoye, business mogul and owner of KODA Sports as the National President of YSFON on March 26, 1980 at the Central Working Committee of YSFON meeting held at Tony’s family house at 18, Olowojeunjeje Street, Ajegunle, which served as interim secretariat of the body.
I can also attest to the fact that Tony Eke was the one that first launched Nigeria into global honour when he registered the Nigerian youtyh to take part in a competition organised in Goteborg, Sweden in 1980. Tony Eke singularly recruited a crop of talented youngsters like Tajudeen Disu, Tarila Okorowanta, Paul Okoku, Dipriye Tebowei, Christopher Anigala, Alphonsus Akhahon, Femi Olukanni, Mutiwa Oshuntolu, Felix Egogo, Patrick Udoh, Monday Onyebuchi, Monday Oyarekhua, Gbewuro Amatere, Roland Onyemechi, Lawrence Akufe and Ali Kadri and kept them under the supervision of a football technocrat and former Red Devils goal-poacher “Diamond-toed) Peter “Baby” Anieke of Nigeria’s 1949 U.K. Tourists fame.
Led by the President of YSFON Prince Abidoye and seven other officials, Ben Ekpo, Isaac Eke, Patrick Akpavuerhe, Kayode Abiade and my humble self (the writer of this piece), we arrived Goteborg in Sweden to play against the best Europe could offer in terms of youth soccer. We were simply unstoppable as Tarila Okorowanta and Felix Egogo tantalised and taunted their opponents with sizzling football artistry to win Nigeria’s first soccer laurel at international U-16 stage.
Tony Eke’s record as a football administrator and pathfinder of Youth soccer revolution would be uncompleted without an illusion to the fact that he was truly a national soccer icon who touched all corners of the county, staging soccer contents to immortalise or celebrate those who made the game famous at their time.
For instance, Tony Eke regularly staging football competitions in honour of Kano Ado Bayero, Oba of Benin, U.J. Esuene, M.K.O. Abiola, Lekan Salami, Joe Audu, Dominic Oneya, Muda Lawal and recently the ALL STARS Cup which was his last assignment in October 2018, shortly before his sickness of almost nine years took a dramatic turn.
I would like to recall Tony’s last moments on earth with an agonising feeling. As a friend, colleague and confidant for almost four decades, Tony Eke had been the one always inviting me to his house on issues pertaining to football in Nigeria and other West African countries. In fact, he had told me in September, 2018 that we should arrange a football match to celebrate Chioma Ajunwa’s birthday and also mark her recent promotion by the Police on 25th December, 2018, but for his sickness which relapsed in the early part of December. He called on phone and I noticed that his voice was incoherent. When I got to his Oluwalose residence in Ikotun, Lagos on February 1, 2019, I noticed that Tony Eke was in his last days on earth and I quickly called his lawyer daughter Anthonia, who answered my call from Abuja. However, Tonia later told me she was making arrangement to take her father to their village in Delta and wanted to know whether I would be able to go with the family, which I unhesitatingly gave my nod.
Maybe we procrastinated because it took Tonia another three days to get back to me, and when she did, it was to break the sad news that her father had passed on in the early hours of February 16, 2019. I was devastated.
Meanwhile, the remains of Tony Ossai Eke will be buried on Friday, 1st March, 2019 at Ikoyi Cemetery. There was a wake-keep on Thursday, 28th February (yesterday) at Navy Barracks, Ajegunle, Apapa.

Segun Adenuga

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La Liga: Atletico Bring Real Back To Earth

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Atletico Madrid scored five goals against city rivals Real for the first time in nearly 75 years when they fought back from behind in a pulsating derby.

It was only the fourth time Atletico had scored at least five in a Madrid derby, the last occasion being a 6-3 victory in November 1950.

Real lost for the first time this season, having won all six of their opening La Liga matches as well as their first Champions League tie, a 2-1 victory over Marseille.

The last time Real conceded as many in La Liga was a 5-1 defeat by Barcelona in October 2018.

Robin le Normand’s header had given Diego Simeone’s side an early lead that was overturned by superb goals from Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler.

But Alexander Sorloth levelled the game at 2-2 in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

And the hosts took charge after the break when Julian Alvarez, who had hit the post in the first half, converted from the penalty spot before curling home a brilliant free-kick.

Atletico went into their shell, but held their cross-city rivals at bay until Antoine Griezmann grabbed their fifth goal deep into stoppage time.

The result maintained an impressive record against Real in La Liga for Simeone’s side, who have not lost in their past six league encounters with Los Blancos.

PSG Regain Top Position In France (7)

Paris St-Germain returned to the top of Ligue 1 with a comfortable victory over Auxerre at the weekend.

Illia Zabarnyi scored his first goal for the club since his summer move from Bournemouth when he volleyed in at the back post from Vitihna’s cross at the Parc des Princes in Paris.

The home side doubled their lead when Lucas Beraldo headed home from Senny Mayulu’s cross.

PSG moved above Marseille, who beat them on Monday, as they made it five wins from their opening six league matches.

Auxerre had their chances, with a fierce shot from Kevin Danois striking the woodwork and Sekou Mara having a header cleared off the line.

There were further opportunities for Luis Enrique’s side but Achraf Hakimi’s dink was ruled out for offside and Bradley Barcola sent a header over the bar.

Auxerre are 13th in the table with four defeats from six matches.

PSG travel to Barcelona on Wednesday in their second Champions League group stage match.

Before the PSG match, Marseille scored two late goals to move level on points with hosts Strasbourg and go top of Ligue 1 on goal difference.

Strasbourg looked on track to move four points clear at the top until the 78th minute as Abdoul Ouattara’s goal had them ahead.

But former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang grabbed the equaliser, and Amir Murillo completed the turnaround as the clock ticked into added time.

Aubameyang was first to the rebound following his own shot to level the score after goalkeeper Mike Penders spilled the initial shot.

Penders, on loan from Chelsea, seemed to have done better in stoppage time when he tipped substitute Robinio Vaz’s header onto the crossbar, but the rebound landed with Murillo.

Marseille were top with five teams all on 12 points, including Strasbourg who were in fifth place.

Kane Sets Elite Scoring Record With Bayern  (5)

Harry Kane scored twice in Bayern Munich’s win over Werder Bremen last Friday to become the fastest player this century to reach 100 goals for a club playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

The England captain won and converted a penalty on the stroke of half-time, before firing home from close range in the 65th minute to reach the century mark in just 104 games.

The previous record of 105 games was set by Cristiano Ronaldo while playing for Real Madrid in 2011, and matched by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland last year.

Former Liverpool winger Luis Diaz had opened the scoring when he deflected in a Jonathan Tah flick from a corner, while Konrad Laimer slipped home a late fourth as leaders Bayern preserved their unbeaten start to the season.

Kane broke two other records in his side’s 4-1 victory against Hoffenheim last weekend, during which he scored a hat-trick.

He reached 70 Bundesliga goals in just his 67th game in the competition, faster than anyone else in the league’s history.

Previously, the 32-year-old broke the record for the most goals scored in 50 Bundesliga games (54 goals), and the fewest number of games needed to reach 50 goals in the competition (43 matches).

On Friday, Kane also became the first player in Bundesliga history to convert their first 18 penalties, as well as score 18 consecutive spot-kicks.

Kane was the first player in Bundesliga history to finish top scorer in both his first two seasons, and the only player to score 25 or more goals in their first two campaigns in the competition.

He has started this campaign with 15 in eight games in all competitions – including two hat-tricks in five Bundesliga games, with Vincent Kompany’s side top of the league table with a 100% record.

Kane is the highest scoring Englishman in Champions League history (42 goals), and scored against all 20 teams he has faced in the Bundesliga.

Only Miroslav Klose has played against more sides, while scoring against all of them (28).

Kane joined Bayern from Tottenham Hotspur in a £100m transfer in 2023, having scored 280 goals in 435 games in all competitions for the Premier League club.

He has two years remaining on the four-year contract he signed with the Munich outfit, although he has recently been linked with former club Spurs and Manchester United.

But when asked on Friday if he was thinking of a Premier League return, Kane said: “No, not at the moment. I’m really happy here. I have two years left on my contract.

“I’m enjoying every moment. That is not in my thought process. I’m enjoying it with the team, with the coach, and hopefully we continue to be successful.”

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Forest Still Looking For Winning Formula 

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Ange Postecoglou’s difficult start to life as Nottingham Forest head coach continued as Omar Alderete’s first-half goal gave Sunderland victory at the City Ground.

The former Spurs boss, appointed on 9 September, has now lost three and drawn two of his first five games in charge, with Saturday’s loss coming in his first home game with Forest.

But the hosts will feel aggrieved by the manner of Sunderland’s winner, with the visitors awarded a free-kick when Nicolas Dominguez was penalised for simulation when he clashed with Trai Hume while attempting to clear.

Grant Xhaka sent the ball in from the set-piece and Alderete was there to direct it into the net.

Dan Ndoye came close to equalising just before the break with a deflected effort before Chris Wood headed over.

Elliot Anderson curled a shot just over the bar as Forest pushed for the leveller in the second half, while Robin Roefs, who has been excellent for Sunderland so far this season – saved well from Omari Hutchinson, Wood and a long-range Anderson effort.

But despite the pressure, Forest could not find a goal as promoted Sunderland’s third win of the season moved them up to third in the table.

Forest, meanwhile, are 16th with just one win from their first six Premier League games.

 

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Man Utd Lose, Again 

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Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes had a second-half penalty saved as Ruben Amorim’s side slipped to a Premier League defeat at Brentford at the weekend.

United were trying to fight their way back after Igor Thiago capitalised on some shambolic United defending inside the first 20 minutes to give the home side a two-goal cushion.

Benjamin Sesko pulled one back with his first goal since making a £74m summer move from RB Leipzig.

Fernandes was given the chance to level when Bees captain Nathan Collins dragged former Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo back inside the area.

After a delay of almost five minutes, which included a video assistant referee red card check against Collins and Brentford making two substitutions, Fernandes’ low effort was turned away by Caoimhin Kelleher.

Brentford wrapped it up deep in stoppage time when Mathias Jensen drove a high shot past United goalkeeper Altay Bayindir from the edge of the area.

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