Nwakwo Kanu’s Associate Attends FRITISH Cup Draw Ceremony

The draws ceremony of the maiden FRITISH Football Championship became a huge talking point when the chairman of Kanu Heart Foundation (KHF), Pastor Onyebuchi Abia turned up among the guests, much to the delight of the organizers and other stakeholders present.

Pastor Abia, who has been running the foundation established by former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu for over 20 years, showed another angle to his remarkable love for youth development and progressive ventures when he arrived earlier than most invitees for the event.

Consequently, the very close associate of Kanu became the cynosure of all eyes at the event, which held on Tuesday at Olympic Ground, off Ijesha Bus Stop, along Oshodi/Mile 2 Expressway, Lagos, where memory was brought alive about the 1996 and 1999 African Footballer of The Year.

Although Kanu (aka Papilo) was not physically present, his name was mentioned in passing due to the appearance of Abia, who is also an ex-footballer and journalist, but now touching souls as a clergyman and mending hearts as the engine room of KHF.

With mention made about ‘Papilo’ during Tuesday’s epochal event, a consolation of sort was provided for all present about the absence of petit actor, Osita Ikeme, who had been heralded all along to be among the guests at the symbolic draw ceremony for the upcoming competition.

In the absence of Ikeme, as well as no show by his sidekick, Chinedu Ikedieze and ace comedian, Akpororo, who had all been expected to grace the occasion alongside the coach of Nollywood FC of Surulere, which they often train with regularly and is one of the competing teams at FRITISH Cup 2021, the next star to celebrate on Tuesday had to be Pastor Abia.

Indeed, Abia, who first made his mark playing for Enyimba of Aba in the late 80s before going on to become an editor at trailblazing weekly newspaper, National SportsLink, made the best of Tuesday’s event by showing how much of a devout Christian he has become by taking the opening and closing prayers with aplomb.

The well-respected football buff, social service worker and motivational speaker, who is also at present a leading cleric with Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), was among the early guests at the event, which officially introduced details about the competition to the public.

His presence lent more credence to trappings about the much talked about maiden grassroots football competition that is being jointly-sponsored by Italy-based brothers, Friday and Timothy Ebeye, along with their childhood friend, David Opeyemi (aka Shola Garber).

Abia was joined on the guests’ list by the secretary-general of Nigerian Grassroots Football Federation (NGFF), Mr Oscar Ezinwa Emmanuel, Coach Raymond Akpaluogo, who is now the secretary of Badagry Division Football Association (BDFA), chairman of the referees’ council, Yusuf Durosimi and Alhaji Rasheed Tela, a leader of Amuwo Odofin Coaches Council.

They were joined by representatives and coaches of the competing teams, among which were Adewale Abiodun of Ade FC, Hyginus Okoye of Young Stars, Ayadi Ibikun of Super Angel, Michael Kalu of Mighty Starlet, Sunday Olusoji of Samba Boys, Obinna Kanu of Young Starlet, Raymond Akaluogbo of Heritage FC, Oscar Emmanuel of Pison Divine Royals, Osondu Martins of Nollywood FC and Oseji Chuka of Golden Potters.

Coach Chuka ended up giving vote thanks on behalf of all stakeholders that gathered at the open space owned by Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) but run by Amuwo Odofin Coaches Council, while the referees’ chairman gave a lecture on new rules and regulations guiding the round leather game, as provided by world soccer governing body, FIFA.

Chairman of FRITISH Cup 2021 organising committee, Omoette Athan (aka Coach Lapa) said during his welcome address and opening speech that he was happy to be part of the day’s elite gathering, which he described as a very historic moment in the search for continued promotion of youth football from the interior regions.

He went on to praise the trio of Friday and Timothy Ebeye with Opeyemi for deeming it fit to put something back into the community that produced them, which he said is a very laudable and lofty gesture that is worthy of emulation by other products from similar communities in and around Lagos metropolis.

‘Coach Lapa’ expatiated that the competition is being staged under the tag of FRITISH Sports Promotions International, in conjunction with Amuwo Odofin Football Coaches Council, which have together set aside April 12th for the kick-off and May 1st for the final, both at Olympic Ground, near The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Church headquarters.

This means the competition will get underway just five days after one of the sponsors, Timothy Ebeye, takes Miss Uche Michael to the altar to exchange marital vows at Ikoyi Registry on April 7, for which he is expected to fly in direct from Italy in the coming week.

FRITISH Cup 2021 will then kick-off the weekend right after the legal consummation of Timothy’s wedding that began last year with formal traditional rites exchanged between the new incoming couple, such that everyone connected with the competition joked that it should be tagged a very special marriage dedication for the joint-sponsor and his bride.

Expectations are now high that Timothy might be around to witness the opening ceremony on April 12, if his flight back to Italy is not before then, while his older brother, Friday, could turn up for the final on May 1st, which is expected to be preceded by a ceremonial match between Will-B Excellence Secondary School, Ikotun, Lagos and an academic institution from the Ijesha axis.

Such was the enthusiasm of the local organising committee’s chairman, who reeled out the full placements of all ten teams across two groups and revealed that prizes on offer include a cash award of N100,000 for first placed, second place to get N70,000 and third position will go home with N50,000.

Group A has Super Angels of Ajegunle, Golden Potters of Ijesha, Pison Divine Royals of Isheri-Oshun, Young Stars of Satellite Town and Samba Boys of Ojo Barracks; while Group B has Ade FC of Barracks, Mighty Starlet of Ijesha, Nollywood FC of Surulere, SC Heritage of Ojo Barracks and Young Starlet of Ijesha; with the top two teams from each billed to qualify for the semi-finals.

Coach Lapa concluded: “I appreciate the efforts of Ebeye Friday, Ebeye Timothy and Shola Garba, who came together to give back to the society in their own little way, by sponsoring the championship, in order to keep the youth busy.

“(The competition will also help the youth) take their mind off crimes, such as cultism, armed robbery, drugs, etc. They are also giving a platform for development (of these young players), promoting and preparing them for future national and international calls.”