Sports
My Career Was Inspired By Pele’s Prophecy – Owolabi …He’s The Greatest Of All Time
Former international, Felix Owolabi, has expressed gratitude to the late Brazilian legend, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as Pele, whom he said inspired him in his illustrious football career.
Pele passed on at the age of 82 on December 29, after a long battle with cancer at the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo. The late Brazilian icon remains the only player to have won the World Cup on three occasions.
Speaking to Tidesport source on Monday, Owolabi said the coming of Pele to Nigeria in 1977 was a blessing in disguise. To him, that visit was something that would linger in his memory forever, adding that the words he spoke concerning his football career made him an household name in Nigerian football.
“Pele’s visit to Nigeria was divine; divine in the sense that he prophesied into my life and it came to pass. I was playing for Raccah Rovers of Kano then and I can remember vividly when he was asked whether the team he played with had potential.
“His answer at that time was that he saw me as a potential for the nation. I remember he came to Nigeria with the Cruisero Football Club of Brazil in 1977. The team played against Shooting Stars, Raccah Rovers and the National Team. Pele himself played for and against the teams in each half.
“But that statement he made concerning me, which was captured on the pages of all the national dailies inspired me to get me to where I am today. I later followed his career and even bought his book. He was my role model because he was complete gentleman.
“Pele was also a ‘bulldozer’ on the pitch and a moving train. He possessed very good qualities and he mesmerised and passed through defenders at will. I watched Pele score many goals with bicycle kicks.
“The number 10 jersey was his exclusive reserve and today the jersey is regarded as a jersey for special players whose i nfluence on the field cannot be underestimated. His popularity cut across the length and breadth of the globe. He was a great player of repute, who commanded fame and popularity,” he said.
The former manager of IICC Shooting Stars, while commenting on the issue of who the greatest footballer of all time is, Owolabi said: “We should not for any reason and on any platform compare Lionel Messi and Maradona with Pele at all. Pele is the greatest footballer of this century.”
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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