On March 20, 2022, the famous Onikan Stadium now renamed the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Arena, practically stood still for the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the galaxy of football stars engaged in a novelty match to celebrate his 70th birthday. OLALEKAN OKUSAN reports.
Since the former Onikan Stadium was renovated and now renamed the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Arena, the venue has not witnessed a capacity crowd until Sunday, March 20, 2022.
The event that shook the edifice to its foundation was no less than a novelty match organised in honour of the former Lagos State Governor and All Progressive Congress (APC) stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of his 70th birthday on March 29.
And MJ Sports Arena practically stood still for the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom!
In the mix at the high profile match was a motley crowd of former Nigerian internationals including the cast from the 1994 AFCON-winning stars like goalkeepers Peter Rufai and Alloy Agu, midfielder Mutiu Adepoju, defender Uche Okechukwu, master dribbler Austin Jay Jay Okocha as well as stars from the Atlanta 1996 Olympic soccer gold medal-winning stars like Nwankwo Kanu, Tijani Babangida, Garuba Lawal amongst others.
The venue equally received the largest gathering of APC faithful – from serving Senators and House of Representatives members to the party’s neighbourhood grassroots mobilisers – who trouped in large numbers to honour Asiwaju Tinubu for his epochal 70th anniversary.
APC bigwigs led by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy Olufemi Hamzat as well as Senators Adeola Solomon (Lagos West); Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos East); Rep James Faleke; Rep Ademorin Kuye; Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; ex-Deputy Governor Femi Pedro; Nigeria Ambassador to Spain, Demola Seriki; Senator Magnus Abe; Lagos Whitecap Chiefs, among others graced the event.
Abuja’s presence was also felt with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, on hand to celebrate on the sporting stage with the Asiwaju of Lagos-fondly nicknamed the ‘Lion of Bourdillon’.
Prior to the star match of the day, there was an encounter involving Team Asiwaju Lagos (state excos, House of Assembly members, council chairmen), and Team Asiwaju Abuja (National Assembly members) which ended 1-1.
Clad in the colourful Super Eagles jersey with a brown face cap to match, Tinubu was accompanied to the MJ Sports Arena by his amiable wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to officially kick-off the star match of the day at 4:30 pm to the admiration of the gathering.
The Ex-Eagles squad which had mercurial midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha, the highly-garlanded Kanu Nwankwo, ‘Gentle Giant’ Uche Okechukwu and headmaster Mutiu Adepoju, among others, re-enacted their 1994 performance against the Waheed Akanni-led Lagos ex-internationals.
The first half may not have sizzled as expected but the second half turned out to be the climax with the ex-Eagles drubbing their opponent 2-0 through a brace from Victor Agali – with assists from Julius Aghahowa and Jay-Jay Okocha, who dazzled the crowd with his skills.
Ike Shorunmu who was in goal for the ex-Eagles was on holiday throughout the second half of the encounter with the ex-internationals dictating the pace to claim victory at the expense of the Lagos side. The Ex-Eagles were managed by former Super Eagles Assistant Coach, Fatai Amoo.
Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) Oluwatoyin Gafar, described the encounter as a befitting birthday gift for a man who had given his all for Lagos and Nigeria.
Gafar said: “I think this is an honour well deserved because the celebrant has done a lot for Lagos and Nigeria in general and the presence of the Ex-Eagles showed that they held him in high esteem as some of them flew in from abroad to be part of the event.
“It is a gathering of former footballers who came to honour an icon that has also done a lot for sports in Lagos and Nigeria in general. We are happy to be part of this event and we hope the new generations can learn from the gesture of the former players to an icon like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Commenting on the match, federal lawmaker Faleke commended the former footballers for honouring Tinubu.
His words: “Let me say that I gave God the glory for the day we took the decision to work with the ex-internationals on this particular day.
“We least expected this success and for me, for the ex-internationals coming out en masse to support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a glorious thing and it shows that all Nigerians from all spheres of life support him. We are happy that we’ve seen what we have here today.
“The majority of the ex-internationals flew in from their different stations to honour of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Former U-20 star, Akanni, said the event provided an avenue for the players to rub minds again.
“We are all very excited to be part of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at 70 celebrations, and it is always nice to see the ex-internationals honouring Asiwaju on the occasion of his birthday. It was an exciting game for the legends and we got to see ourselves and enjoy the match. I’m just happy to be here today,” Akanni, a former Lagos State Football Association chairman, said.