Governing Bodies
Nigeria Super Eagles are 73 years old today
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
It is 73 years today 26 June that the Nigeria’s national football team was first composed. It was on this day in 1949 at the Labour Office in Lagos, 17 players were named as members of the International Group, a name given to Nigeria’s first national team preparatory to a proposed goodwill tour of the United Kingdom in August.
On the day Nigeria beat Guinea 1-0 to become the first team to advance to the knock-out stage of the 2019 Afcon in Egypt, the Nigerian team symbolically clocked 70. In a country where record-keeping is still a big challenge, the Platinum Jubilee of the soccer team easily passed unnoticed, unmarked and uncelebrated, since the evolution and developments of the team are not documented.
The 18th player was announced five days later at the Labour Office, where the then chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Capt. Donald Henry Holley was also the chairman of the Labour Advisory Board.
Holley had worked tirelessly to see the formation of a Nigeria national team and also ensured they ventured abroad and thus became the first African and Afro set of players to have a tour of the United Kingdom.
Raising a Nigeria national team had been a long time dream of Holley who had lived in Nigeria for 24 years since 1925. At the time, he called himself a Nigerian.
In one of the trial matches played by the selected side, against Lagos European team, the latter won the match. According to a newspaper account, when Holley got back home and announced the result to his wife, Dorothy, she exclaimed: “You mean the Europeans have beaten us.”
Holley at the send off party for the team held at the Island Club, Onikan on 11 August 1949, he sentimentally remarked: “This UK Tour is the end of my dream.”
It was largely through his efforts that Nigeria was able to send a team which he led to the United Kingdom and a £1,800 was made. By then he had become a commissioner of Labour.
“Some years ago, the idea of inviting the English Football Association to this country was mooted out. But when it was found impossible, they decided that if they didn’t come to them the Nigeria Football Association would go to England.
“This tour is the end of my dream”, said Captain Holley. He left Nigeria in July 1950, barely nine months after the famous UK tour. Six years later, he died in the UK in December 1956.
In 1955, Reginald Banham Allen, better known as Derby Allen who was then the secretary/treasurer of the NFA wrote that the NFA existed thanks to the generous donation of the Lagos & District Amateur Football Association (LDAFA) of which Captain Donald Henry Holley, better known as Captain D.H Holley headed. He later became the chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and the manager of Nigeria’s first national team.
It was largely through his efforts that Nigeria was able to send a team which he led to the United Kingdom and a £1,800 was made. By then he had become a commissioner of Labour.
On 26 June 1949, he announced the names of Nigeria’s first national team. The players were: GOALKEEPERS – Sam Ibiam (Port Harcourt) and Isaac Akioye (Ibadan); DEFENDERS: Justin Onwudiwe, Olisa Chukwura (Abeokuta), Ahmed Tijani Ottun (Marine FC), Isiaku Shittu (Lagos UAC), John Dankaro (Jos), Hope Lawson (Marine FC), Dan Anyiam (Lagos UAC) FORWARDS: Francis Mesembe Otu (Marine FC), Peter Anieke (Railway), Sokari Dokubo (Railway) Edet Ebenezer (Port Harcourt), Godwin Anosike (Railway), Etim Henshaw (Marine), Tesilimi Balogun (Railway) and Titus Okere (Railway).
Five days later, at the same Labour Office on 1 July 1949, the 18th player, Okoronkwo Kanno was controversially announced.
He was appointed player/secretary of the team having been educated for a while in England.
The selectors believed he had acquired the refinements necessary to be the face of the team in England.
His selection was a subject of controversy at the press conference held by the council of the NFA.
As at today, all but one of the pioneer members of the Nigerian team have died. The sole survivor is Titus Okere who ventured abroad in 1953 and never returned.
Now 93, he leaves a quiet life in Kent, some 61km to London in the UK.
Related story: https://www.sportsvillagesquare.com/2022/06/01/long-forgotten-1949-uk-tourists-legend-titus-okere-is-alive%ef%bf%bc/
The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) will hold its Executive Committee (“EXCO”) meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday, 21 October 2024.
The Executive Committee meeting, to be chaired by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe, will start at 10h30 local time (07h30 GMT).
The meeting will be held ahead of the 46th Ordinary General Assembly which will also take place in the Ethiopian capital on Tuesday, 22 October 2024 at 10h00 local time (07h00 GMT).
Wahid Oshodi, the newly elected President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) has made an immediate call to the private sector to boost table tennis on the continent.
His approach focuses on not relying solely on public funds but on seeking corporate investment to elevate the sport.
He has launched an ambitious strategy to strengthen the development of table tennis in Africa.
His first step has been to solicit the backing of the private sector, which he sees as crucial to taking the sport to the next level.
In his inaugural address, Oshodi emphasised that relying exclusively on government funding and the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) “will not be enough to boost the sport across the continent.”
“It’s time to involve private and corporate organisations to help table tennis flourish in Africa.
“We cannot continue depending solely on government funding. We aim to raise the standards and produce more African superstars who can shine globally,” stated the new ATTF president, seeking a significant financial injection to tackle the challenges and ambitions set out for his tenure.
His election, held on 15 October in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was unanimous. Indeed, a clear acknowledgement of his international reputation and dedication to table tennis.
Oshodi, who was previously elected Vice President of the ATTF in 2019 and Executive Vice President of the ITTF in 2021, has more than proven his ability to lead the sport’s development both in his home country and across the continent.
The Lagos-born leader is not only focused on funding but also on fostering unity among ATTF member associations. He believes that a united continent will be stronger and better positioned to succeed on the global stage. “Unity is key. Together, we can achieve more for table tennis in Africa,” he added.
Governing Bodies
Sanusi set for record-extending tenure as Nigeria’s football politicians assemble in Asaba
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Speculations gathered ahead of the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Football Federation holding in Asaba on Friday have it that tenure elongation for the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, is a major item on the agenda.
Neither formal confirmation nor denial has been issued since one of the leading newspapers in Nigeria, ThisDay dropped the hint.
The agenda of the meeting is also not made public. Dr, Sanusi is the longest-serving General Secretary in history having been in office from 30 March 2015 making 3,476 days or nine years six months and four days.
It easily drowned that of his closest rival in tenure – Sani Toro whose tenure from 21 December 1993 to 3 May 1999 is merely 2020 days or five years, six months and 12 days.
Thus, no one had enjoyed a longer period in office than the incumbent, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi. It is speculated that the tenure will be extended as NFF has reported that all delegates have arrived in the Delta State capital by Thursday evening.
The NFF Annual General Assembly, the first of which took place 90 years ago in Lagos on 19 February 1934, is the biggest assemblage of football administrators and stakeholders in the country.
In one such meeting on 24 July 2008 in Makurdi, the football body changed its name from NFA to NFF.
This year, according to a press release by the NFF, the plenary will have in attendance, the chairmen and secretaries of football associations in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, chairmen and secretaries of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and the Nationwide League One, as well as chairmen and secretaries of the referees’ association, players’ union and coaches’ association. This group of 88 makes up the Congress.
They are joined by the members of the NFF Executive Committee and the management team as well as former NFF Presidents and General Secretaries.
The Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh, is announced as the special guest. Nigeria’s Member of the FIFA Council, Amaju Melvin Pinnick is also expected as well as a representative of the West African Football Union (WAFU B).
The Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Francis Oborevwori will declare the General Assembly open.
Venue is the Unity Hall of the Delta State Government House.
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