Kingsley Obiekwu. the ex-Super Eagles defender who is now a commercial driver in Nigeria, said some of his former teammates pretend they do not know him because of his poor living condition.

Mr Obiekwu was part of the Nigerian Dream Team, with the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Sunday Oliseh, Augustine Okocha and Emmanuel Amunike, which recorded the country’s historic first soccer gold medal win at the 1996 Olympics.

His football career suffered a devastating setback when he was diagnosed with “enlargement of heart” after signing a contract with a Dutch football club, Go Ahead Eagles FC.

That was his first taste of international football at a club level.

Because of this, he could not go further in football within and outside Nigeria. And when life became tough for him, he had to resort to commercial driving in Enugu State, Nigeria’s South-east, in 2019 in order to earn a living. This was 23 years after the heroic achievement in the Atlanta Olympics.

He combines the transport business with a coaching job at FC Ingas, a lower division club in Enugu.

“Most of the time when I come across my former teammates, they will pretend they don’t know me or I didn’t even play with them,” Mr Obiekwu said, with a bewildered expression, in his Enugu residence.

Mr Obiekwu, 47, said apart from Nwankwo Kanu, other teammates were unconcerned about his plight.

The ex-defender recalled with sadness how a former teammate, who was staying in Port Harcourt, rebuffed his request to spend a night in his house when he was stranded in the city in 2000, despite the fact that both of them played in a match against Ghana the previous year.

As a commercial driver, Mr Obiekwu usually meets police officers manning checkpoints on the road. He initially thought the officers would accord him some respect as holder of national honour, Order of Niger.

Niger.

He was wrong!

“They (officers) mocked me, they said I should go and sit down because it is none of their business,” Mr Obiekwu said while recalling an encounter he had with some police officers.

Mr Obiekwu talked about how the heart condition affected him.

“That enlargement of heart causes what they called palpitation of the heart. They told me the problem with the condition was that I would be getting tired before other players. (And) that’s what I am experiencing,” he said.

Mr Obiekwu experienced limited playing time at the Dutch club because of the heart condition until he left the club in 1998 when his contract expired.

His heart condition, including his recurring knee injury, forced him to retire from football at the age of 30, unable to reach the pinnacle of his career.

‘Not proud of being a taxi driver’

“The story about me driving a Sienna and loading a bus in Abakpa Park is true. There is nothing to hide. That’s what I do,” Mr Obiekwu said.

“I have a Sienna and I have to use it to sustain myself and my family while I wait for the (Nigerian) premier league club to coach.”

Taking to commercial driving was a difficult decision for the former defender, he said.

But his wife’s support and prayers, according to him, provided the needed push into the business that many Nigerians may likely consider as unfitting for a man who was once celebrated as a football hero by the government and people of Nigeria.

“I am not proud of it, but my wife supported me. She took away the shame and encouraged me to do whatever thing, as long as it is not illegal, to help the family. I had to also throw the shame away,” he said.

Mr Obiekwu’s 2000 model Toyota Sienna carries a maximum of seven passengers. He makes N7,000 (about $16) per trip.

Okoh Onyeka, a 400 level student of Mass Communication, Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, said he cried when he hugged Mr Obiekwu while the former footballer was loading passengers in buses at Nsukka Park.

“Life can be cruel. We can help lift him again if he is willing. That environment is not for him,” Mr Onyeka said in a Facebook post.Advertisements

Mr Obiekwu had struggled in vain to land a coaching job in any of the clubs in the Nigeria premier league.

He has a pro-licence certificate from the United Kingdom where he stayed for a four-year coaching course after retirement, but the Nigerian clubs would always ask him to produce a CAF Grade A or Grade B certificate to be considered.

And he has none, he said.ⓘ

After staying without a job for years, following his return to Nigeria, life became difficult for him and his family.

He said he has, at several times, put up his house – a three-bedroom bungalow – for sale to raise money that could enable him to start a business but it was difficult to get a buyer.

He built the house during his glory days in football.

Mr Obiekwu said he is owed close to N6 million by some clubs he coached previously in Nigeria, Egypt and the Republic of Benin.

‘What government should do’

The former footballer is married and has five children, four boys and one girl. Two of the boys are 400-level students at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.

Mr Obiekwu said the Nigerian government has turned its back against him and other footballers who have brought glory and honour to the country.

“Most of us that played for Nigeria in the past have been neglected,” he said.

“What I would have wanted the federal government to do is that most of us that played and are given the honour, the honour needs to come with ‘something’ at the end of every month, at least to encourage and appreciate us.”

He said the promises made to him and his teammates by the federal and state governments were yet to be fulfilled, and that includes a promise by the Delta State Government to give plots of land to the members of the Dream Team.

Obiekwu is a fantastic guy, says ex-teammate, Garba Lawal

PREMIUM TIMES contacted Mr Obiekwu’s former teammate, Garba Lawal.

“I played with him. He was a fantastic guy, no doubt about that,” Mr Lawal said of Mr Obiekwu.

He said he had not been in constant touch with Mr Obiekwu.

Mr Lawal, however, declined comment on the allegation that the teammates have abandoned Mr Obiekwu.

Mr Lawal, 47, who played as a left-winger for the Super Eagles, currently serves as the General Manager of Kaduna United FC.

After Mr Obiekwu’s story went public, Ahmed Musa, the Super Eagles captain, to him. sent a donation of 2million Naira

Henry Onyekuru

Since joining Greek side Olympiakos in the summer of 2021 for €4.5m, Onyekuru has failed to meet expectations.

The forward was hoping to revive his career at the club after being deemed surplus to requirements at Monaco, but he’s struggled for form and consistency and was a subject of several transfer rumours during the January transfer window.

The Nigeria international was on target in his second outing against Slovan Bratislava in a UEFA Europa League qualifying match last August, but ever since, the forward has failed to find the back of the net in his next 22 games in all competitions, equaling a total time of 1,017 hours and a period of almost six month.

Terem Moffi

Striker Mofi was highly sought after in the summer, thanks to his impressive performance for Ligue 1 side Lorient, which helped them maintain their topflight status in the 2020/21 season, as he bagged 14 league goals, 11 of them coming in the second half of the season.

However, the powerful forward has failed to replicate the form and has only been able to score just three goals in 23 matches this season.

His struggles have affected Lorient, who are wallowing in the relegation zone.

Peter Olayinka

After scoring in three consecutive league games for Slavia Prague in October, on his return from an ankle injury, Olayinka has only been able to score once ever since. He’s only managed two assists in 22 games as well.

Frank Onyeka

After joining EPL newcomers Brentford last summer, a lot was expected from combative midfielder Onyeka, but after some fine performances on his arrival, the Nigerian has struggled thereafter.

Alex Iwobi

Everton’s Iwobi has struggled to impress in his third season with the Toffees. Highly rated at Arsenal, before his move to Goodison Park, the forward has contributed two goals and two assists to the club in 16 appearances in all competitions. He looks to be close to finding his feet under new manager Frank Lampard.

Samuel Kalu

Kalu will be hoping to turn around his career after making a January move to struggling EPL side, Watford, after the winger battled to make the grade with French Ligue 1 club Bordeaux. Kalu had a goal and an assist in 11 games for Bordeaux in the first part of the 2021/22 league season, starting just two of the games.

Samuel Chukwueze

This season, Chukwueze hasn’t shown glimpses of why he’s regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in global football. He’s made just five starts in 14 league appearances for Villarreal this season, scoring twice and providing one assist. Although he has scored five goals in 18 appearances in all competitions, Chukwueze has struggled to consistently churn out impressive performances for the Yellow Submarines.

William Troost-Ekong

Despite being a key member of Watford’s defensive set up this season, Troost-Ekong has struggled with the fast pace of the EPL since helping the Hornets return to the English topflight this season.

He has committed several blunders, which pitted him against the fans. Against Brentford, his poor tackle inside the box on Saman Ghaddos in the 94th minute won the opponents a penalty, which was converted by Bryan Mbeumo to earn the Bees a hard-fought win. He was dropped for the next game against West Ham.

Maduka Okoye

Despite signing for Watford in the January transfer window, the performance of Okoye for Sparta Rotterdam has not been impressive.

Okoye has conceded 27 goals in 18 appearances for the Dutch Eredivisie side keeping just two clean sheets.

Semi Ajayi

Ajayi was one of the most consistent players for West Brom in the Premier League last season, and featured in 14 of the first 15 games for the Baggies this term, before being relegated to the bench.

The big defender has only played four minutes of competitive football in the English Championship, since clocking 90 minutes on October 30.  Before getting called up for the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, Ajayi was on the bench for nine of 10 games, playing just four minutes in those games. On return from the AFCON, he returned to the bench.

Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare may appeal the decision of the Athletics Integrity Unit to hand her a 10-year ban for doping violations.

She gave the hint while reacting to the ban on Saturday.

She wrote, “My attention has been drawn to the statement issued by the AIU regarding its disciplinary panel decision. My lawyers are currently studying it for our next line of action which we will inform you soon.

On Friday that Nigeria’s 2008 long jump silver medalist Blessing Okagbare was banned for 10 years for doping.

The 33-year-old, who is also a sprinter, was expelled from the Tokyo Olympics last year before the women’s 100m semi-finals after testing positive for human growth hormone at an out-of-competition test in Slovakia on July 19.

“The Disciplinary Tribunal has banned Nigerian sprinter Blessing Okagbare for a total of 10 years,” read an AIU statement.

A copy of the judgement obtained by The PUNCH read in part, “For the reasons set out, The Tribunal:
“Finds the ADRVs contrary to Rules 2.1 and 2.2 ADR proved;

“Imposes a period of Ineligibility of five years concurrently on each of the Rule 2.1 and Rule 2.2 ADRVs;

“Finds that the Athlete failed to comply with the Demand and cooperate with the AIU investigation in breach of Rules 5.7.3 and 5.7.7 ADRV and imposes a consecutive period of Ineligibility of five years; and

“Therefore, imposes a total period of Ineligibility of ten years which commences on 31 July 2021.

If there is one thing the Nigeria Football Federation had consistently succeded in, it’s wooing players of Nigerian descent to star for the Super Eagles inspite of having played for their countries of birth at the junior cadre and the list is endless. Victor Moses, Leon Balogun, Henry Onyekuru, Sheyi Ojo, and most recently, Ademola Lookman, to mention but a few. In continuation of the ‘VIP Scouting,’ NFF boss, Amaju Pinnick, national team interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen and Emmanuel Amuneke recently traveled to UK to convince Crystal Palace duo of Ebere Eze and Michael Olise to dump the countries of their birth for fatherland. How well NFF succeeds in that move, however, remains to be seen

While Eberechi Eze had represented England at the U-20 and U-21 levels, Michael Olise had played for France at the U-18. But in continuation of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) ‘VIP Scouting’, the Crystal Palace duo are being wooed to play for Nigeria at the senior level, culminating in Super Eagles interim technical adviser Augustine Eguavoen and Emmanuel Amuneke to embark on a trip to United Kingdom to convince the two players to switch nationality.

The 20-year-old has represented France at the youth level in the past, after he made his debut in 2019, against Qatar U-23 and was also called up to the France U-18 squad for the 2019 Toulon.
Eze on the other hand was born in Greenwich, Greater London to Nigerian parents and therefore eligible to play for the Three Lions of England and the Super Eagles.

He trained with the Nigeria national team in 2018, he was, however, called up to the England national U-20 team, where he made his debut in a 2–1 win against Italy in the U-20 Elite League in October 2018.
Eze then captained England U-20 in a 2–1 loss against Chile at the 2019 Toulon Tournament, where Olise also represented France. He made a total of seven appearances for the English U-20 side.

Eguavoen met with UK-based Nigerian David Doherty, ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifiers playoff game against Ghana in March.
Doherty played a role in Ola Aina’s decision to switch allegiance to Nigeria, he also brought Ebere Eze to the Super Eagles training camp in London in 2017.

He is said to still be very close to Eze, who in turn is a very close friend of Micheal Olise.
Pinnick has never hidden his resolve at ensuring that youngsters of Nigerian origin who are doing well in England and other leagues will wear the Nigerian colours at the appropriate time. He said it had been in the plans of the present NFF board to build a young Super Eagles team ahead of the 2022 World Cup, adding that the federation was monitoring several Nigerian players that are making waves in the various leagues.

“What we are trying to do is what we call VIP scouting – talking to these young players that are playing abroad to play for their fatherland. No Nigerian, even if they have four or five passports, they are always excited being Nigerians. I can assure you that we shall get them to play for us at appropriate time,” Pinnick had said.

Despite joining Crystal Palace in the summer of 2021 with a broadened horizon, having won Championship Young Player of the Year the season before, there was still a moment of hesitation among the Palace fans over how quickly Olise would adapt to Premier League standards.
After all, there was no real need for a weight of expectation to burden the then 19-year-old.

Eze was Palace’s star boy, and his impending return, along with the signings of Odsonne Edouard and Conor Gallagher, meant that the Reading academy graduate could be eased into the fold gradually.

But now that six months have flown by in Olise’s Crystal Palace chapter, the intoxicating demeanour of the Frenchman has caught the attention of the top-flight on countless occasions, and he has crushed the notion that Premier League adaptability would be an arduous assignment.

Turning defences inside out, conjuring a pantheon of tantalising crosses into the box, and getting Selhurst Park off their seats-Olise is the real deal, and he has proven to be the fulcrum of Patrick Viera’s youthful revolution.
Olise’s £8 million arrival to South London from Reading in July 2021 was Vieira’s first acquisition since being appointed head coach, and it kick started a dramatic shift in the club’s transfer policy.

Starting the season on the backfoot could have hindered the youngster’s opportunity to get first-team football, but the injury he suffered seemed to do nothing but add further determination to the maquillage of Olise. He showed straight away that he was comfortable in the presence of giants.

Meanwhile, Eze, 23, has been one of the Premier League’s most inspiring stories. The Englishman was rejected by a handful of Premier League and Championship clubs as a youngster before getting his chance at QPR.

The R’s brought him in and eventually brought him into their first-team, and Eze wouldn’t let them down.
He became an instant favourite among fans for his daring performances, with the 2019/20 season being his breakthrough year at the club.
Eze scored 14 goals and assisted eight that season, earning himself a reported £20 million move to Crystal Palace ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.

And of course, Eze would take to the Premier League like a duck to water, scoring four and assisting six in his debut season before picking up a horror Achilles injury.

He made a speedy recovery and has now featured five times in the league this season, but report that the newly-rich Newcastle United are weighing up a £45 million summer swoop for the attacking midfielder.
The report says that Newcastle offered Palace £5 million to take Eze on loan last month, with a view to a £35 million permanent transfer.
How well the NFF officials and their coaches are able convince the duo remains to be seen as Algeria Desert Foxes are also said to be on Olise’s trail.

The President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), Mr. Uyi Akpata, has said that one of the goals of his team when fully implemented will help in reducing the number out of school children and create employment opportunities for them.

Akpata made the statement at the on-going 3rd Pricewaterhouse Coopers National Under 17 Cricket Championship at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

“This event is part of the five-pronged strategic imperatives that the NCF is building its development on, which are; promotion of the game at all levels, upgrading infrastructures, building strategic partnerships, training and retraining of staffs and players and ensuring corporate governance,” Akpata said.

The NCF president said all the parts are interdependent and key to ensuring a healthy growth being targeted at ultimately making Nigeria one of the powerhouses of cricket in the short term.

“Our goal is to pull in over 250, 000 kids into the game this year and we have officers in all the 36 states fully equipped to get that going. This Under- 17 finals is a product of all the works these officers have been doing in the past 12 months.

“Recruitments and training at each zone were done, where over 784 players qualified to take part in the regional events across the six geo-political zones to have these ones battling the for the final spots,” he also said.

Akpata said aside cricket being actively played in Nigeria, the country now has six turf wickets, two of which the ongoing championship is being played on, and more are planned for other regions to help harmonize the standard of play in the country.

According to Akpata, the on-going championship will help handlers of the nationak U-19 team to have options of players to be invited when the camp eventually opens later in the year.

The 3rd PwC National Under-17 National Championship for boys and girls will be rounded off on Sunday in Abuja.

Hosts Nigeria will feature 21 fencers, at the 11th Cadet and Junior African Fencing Championship scheduled for between February 23 and February 27 at Festival Hotel, Festac Town, Lagos

Nigeria Fencing Federation President, Adeyinka Samuel disclosed in Lagos that the team which would be competing in individual and team events will be the largest ever for Nigeria at the championship.

The nation’s flag bearers, he added, were mostly drawn from the country while a few others who are based abroad will also vie for titles in épée, sabre and foil events.

“Our fencers have intensified their training in the last two months and we are optimistic they will compete favourably with other countries
“We are looking forward to better our performance at the championship which which serves as a point earning event to the World Cadet and Junior Championship slated for the United Arab Emirates in April,” Samuel stated.

Rachael Olulayo of FEED Sports Nigeria, which is the grassroots platform of Nigerian fencing with the ambition to train a minimum of 10, 000 in each state in Nigeria disclosed that two of the Fund, Educate, Empower and Develop discoveries will be among those that will represent Nigeria and stand the chance to get their first experience in international event for world points.

The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) President, Habu Gumel who was represented by Phemmy Adetula at the media briefing reaffirmed the Olympic movement’s renewed support for fencing in the country.

Gumel declared that its relationship with the International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach’, who is an Olympic gold medallist in fencing, would be explored further to help in the development of the sport in Nigeria.