A Germany-based product of Nigerian Grassroots Football Federation (NGFF), Chidi Miller staged a reunion match on Sunday at Abalti Barracks, near Ojuelegba, Surulere, Lagos.
It was a gathering of three different generations of former NGFF players, who answered the call of their erstwhile team manager, Mr Oscar Ezinwa Emmanuel to grace the exhibition game on the barracks’ new ultra-modern synthetic pitch.
A total of 25 grassroots products turned up for the game, with 13 lining out for the home-based stars, while 12 featured for the foreign legion.
The encounter, which had Coach Benji standing in as match referee and was staged across two halves of 25 minutes each, eventually ended 1-1.
Skipper of the home-based stars, David Michael opened scoring midway through the first half, but former Sweden-based attacker, Emeka Uchechi equalised for the foreign legion.
The younger brother of Egypt 2009 FIFA U20 World Cup Flying Eagles’ assistant captain, China Daniel Uchechi, featured in attack alongside his sibling, Paul, with support coming in midfield from Miller, Tokunbo Olorungbemi, Ibrahim Sugar and Cyprus-based Daniel Kanu (aka Aboy).
Also starring for the overseas lads were Akeem Pablo, Sunday Ibrahim, Sugar Ibrahim, Iwoha Prince, Benjamin Nsoro and goalkeeper of the side, Teryima Ibo.
The opposing side had Williams Dipriye in goal, with defence line comprising Taofeek Jamiu (Janjala), Praise Olukayode, Bamiyo Achebu and Toheeb Aremu.
Also in their squad were Desmond Nwaka, Chimobi Nwaka, Abayomi Lawal, Kazeem Adegoke, Abeeb Amekhame, Olamide Akinduro and Sunny Fasetire.
An elated Miller, who gave all the players, organisers and supporters tokens of appreciation, spoke in an emotional tone after the pulsating encounter.
Miller said: “I am happy that you all came out to honour me, even at such short notice. I will try and do this more often, because I plan to come home twice every year.
“I won’t promise that I will take anyone to a club abroad, but I can help some of the younger ones with their academics.
“That is what helped me after I could not go far in football. I went back to my books and I am happy today that I have to masters degrees and I’m a consultant in data processing.
“I believe that I can help one or two young people around me to gain admissions into schools abroad. It’s my own way of giving back to the system that produced me, while also providing a means through which we can have continuous contact and maintain our unity. Thank you.”
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