Sunday, February 18, 2024 is a day that will remain indelible in the hearts of many sons and daughters of the Egbema Kingdom in Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State as the locals trooped out in their thousands to welcome their national hero, the nascent Nigeria’s first choice goalkeeper, Stanley Bobo Nwabali to his hometown where his journey began.
Just one week earlier, Nwabali successfully cemented his place in the annals of Nigerian football history as his invaluable contributions helped the senior national team to a previously unimagined second place finish at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament held in Côte d’Ivoire.
A number of Nwabali’s Super Eagles teammates were celebrated by their “own people” too in the wake of the AFCON final but none can stand nor trump the elaborate reception held for this former Go Round FC of Omoku goalkeeper and rightly so. The 27-year old put Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA and the Egbema name on the global map through his heroic displays at the tournament during which he became the first Nigerian goalkeeper to win a Man of the Match award at the AFCON in 18 years.
The day’s activities began in the early afternoon with Nwabali’s arrival at the palatial mansion of the Leader of ONELGA, the Mbanabaragu 1 of Orashi Kingdom, Bro Felix Obuah who would later lead him to the ONELGA Council Headquarters where a few hundreds were also waiting to receive the man that has made them proud.
At the Council, Nwabali was received by the Chairman of ONELGA Sir Vincent Job, DSSRS, his deputy Hon. Dr Stella Agada and other members of Council in a short plenary session with Nwabali and his wife. There, he was awarded a sum of N5m as declared by Job who also stated that a street will be named after him in the Local Government.
The reception train then proceeded from the ONELGA Council to the Nzeobi’s Palace in Aggah-Egbema where His Royal Majesty Eze Everestus Amuda conferred the chieftaincy title ‘Ugo Egbema 1 of Egbema Land’ which means the Pride of Egbema on the Chippa United goalkeeper.
Eze Amuda eulogised Nwabali for his performance especially his penalty saving heroics which he noted engraved him in the hearts of many Nigerians both home and abroad thereby making him a Pride for his people back home.
A grand reception was thereafter held in Nwabali’s honour at the Community Primary School, Okwuzi in which thousands of people were in attendance. The ceremony which lasted for about an hour had in attendance, top dignitaries especially those indigenous to ONELGA including Members of Rivers State House of Assembly and Members of the ONELGA Council and other traditional rulers.
There were speeches by the ONELGA Chairman Job, Chief Whip of the Rivers State House of Assembly and Member Representing ONELGA Constituency I, Hon Franklin Nwabochi as well as Member representing ONELGA Constituency II, Hon Dcns Nkemjika Ezekwe while it was rounded off by Bro Obuah.
There was plenty to eat and drink for guests and locals at the reception while there were heartfelt prayers said for the career and continued progress of Stanley Bobo Nwabali, the Pride of Egbema Land who had earlier in the week been honoured by Rivers State Governor Sir Sim Fubara who conferred on him the state’s highest honour DSSRS.
An emotional Nwabali spoke to newsmen after the reception:
“To be honest, I really don’t know how to appreciate these people,” began an emotional Nwabali who actually started his football career as a centre forward.
“The love they showed me today is unbelievable. I thought I’d seen it all at the AFCON but I saw a lot today. I was emotional seeing this kind of crowd coming out to give their support and respect to me. I appreciate everyone in ONELGA and those coming from different states to appreciate me,” he added.
In his own remark at the end of the epoch making event, Proprietor of Nwabali’s first club in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Go Round FC, Bro Felix Obuah says it is a dream come true for him as a Father.
“This is the dream of every father, that his son or daughter makes it to the top. When we started, I had the dream that one day if they put in their best, they will reach the zenith of their careers.
“Today, I am happy that one among lots that I invested on has been able to make it up to the Number 1 goalkeeper of the Super Eagles. I am very proud of him and I am happy that a part and parcel of us has made Nigeria proud,” added Obuah.
Nwabali who has now been linked to several top clubs in Europe and South Africa is scheduled to resume at his club Chippa United this week.