By Daily Sports on May 27, 2019

The U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles began their campaign for this year’s World Youth Championship on a good note against Qatar in their group opening game.  It was one game the Nigerian side put every foot right and it paid off handsomely. It came off after widespread allegation of bribery against the head of the technical crew, Paul Aigbogun through players. I read the damming report in Daily Sports through our very reliable man in Benin and nobody from Aigbogun’s camp has come up with a denial. Despite its good showing, I still have not given the team any chance of lifting the trophy even if miraculously. Against all predictions, I would stand by my write-up.

I have said it over and over again that the head of the technical crew is not fit enough to handle any team because of the way of his performance over the years. I wish the team well as the fireworks continue in Poland.

Super Falcons are preparing for the World Cup in France and one hopes that the team which has been there will get it right this time around. I pray for the god of football to smile on them as the girls get ready to bear our flag cum Africa for the football summit.

 On Friday, May 24, two-year-old Super Eagles Supporters Club, SESC set the tone on football supporter-ship in the country cum Africa when it hosted that evening, some bigwigs in oil and gas industry at Sheraton Hotel Lagos. With its more refined members, it delivered a five-star outing that was great to behold.

It was bid to for the mobilization for the forthcoming AFCON 2019 football summit in Egypt. It was a well attended evening event that the floorboards of the main hall of the very prestigious Sheraton Hotel almost creaked and judging from the quality Nigerians that attended, the show stood out as very successful.

Its Awards Night and investiture of her Patrons and Board of Trustee members drew names of timber and calibre in their rights and it was very compact to say the very least. It was a well-organised event that its execution was equally clinical. It was an evening of a million star and first of its kind in the history of football supporters club. We are pleased that we now have in that fold, a more enlightened set of Nigerians unlike what obtained in the ugly past.

 National Chairman of the Club, Vincent Okumagba set the ball rolling by telling his guests why he drew them out and his audience was held spell bond as he fired from all cylinders and his cheering guests were all in agreement. A soft-spoken personality, he pronto won their hearts hence a wonder evening outing in every material particular.   My heart went out for this dogged Super Eagles Supporters Club chieftain. He has refused to be intimidated under any guise and that is why he forged ahead with his group. The Super Eagles Supporters Club is focused and made up of credible people. The group showed such great depth on Friday as everyone obeyed instructions displaying sanity and comportment.

I will not reel out the names of people that graced the occasion but be informed that traditional rulers, Honourable members came identifying with the Vincent Okumagba led Supporters Club. There is light at the end of the tunnel if the buy-in of those that graced the event last week Friday is anything to rely upon. Okumagba and his team are so determined to hit the roof.

The club according to him has secured six plots of land in Maryland where it will build a befitting secretariat which will be named after Rev. Mother Esther Ambmbola Ajayi (JP) who he described as a very big supporter. Super Eagles Supporters Club is widespread and it accommodates all Nigerians from the present six geo-political zones, fully represented with a full sense of belonging.

It is instructive to note here that the SESC has the solid backing of the Oil and Gas players who came in large numbers. There are also some top men from the Nigeria Police Force. Myriad of Super Eagles supporters at the evening outing, identified solidly with the club, promising to go the whole hog to ensure they discharge their patriotism by cheering the national teams of the country to victory.

It was an evening of colour, grit, class, civility etc and the atmosphere was so conducive for everyone that attended. It is a lesson in the character of Vincent Okumagba who talks less but loves marching words with action. The awards aspect of the ceremony was superb as those that received them were all on merit going by their antecedents in football supportership and sundry in the country.   

  As the SESC prepares to storm Egypt for AFCON with 200 strong supporters, this medium wishes them well and foremost for giving a new face to this one organisation that was roundly described as a congregation of clowns and clappers where men and women of means hold sway. It is a new lease of life where professionals now feel free to sit down and discuss the way forward for supporting the Super Eagles team which no doubt is Nigeria’s front line brand so far as the round leather game is concerned.

The era of intimidation and one-sided affair is now a thing of the past as every member has equal opportunity to air his or her feelings without fear of being mobbed which used to be the order of the day. From the observer’s stand, one cannot agree less with Vincent Okumagba that he and his men and women are building a legacy. Another aspect that received the loudest ovation that evening was when he said that there will be no sit tight leader and that opportunity to lead is open to all for the growth of all Nigerians without any discrimination

As we keep our fingers crossed and wish Okumagba and his team well for ably changing the face of football supporters club in the country, let’s discuss more on our social media handles.

Keep shooting hard, TILL NEXT WEEK!!

Source Daily Sports

Posted May 27, 2019

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