By Taiwo Alimi

Former Super Eagles midfielder Prince Ikpe Ekong was head of a business team from Sweden to Nigeria recently. He found time to speak with The Nation on his storied life in retirement running three companies, pasturing a church in Stockholm, scouting young players for European clubs and mentoring them.

Speaking exclusively with The Nation at a highbrow hotel in Ikeja, the footballer turned pastor, whose career lasted over two decades playing for 12 clubs across Africa, Asia and Europe, said his decision to go business line rather than football line after retirement is paying off handsomely.

He said: “For me, I’m into business. I went into real estate business after I hung my boot and it’s been worth it. I’m the CEO of three companies and I’m also a director in Nanol (an international oil and gas company). I’m the chairman of Nanol. That is what I use in sustaining myself because I actually work even though I’m retired from football. I consider that it is proper for me to do something in retirement. And this is what I do. I love what I’m doing and enjoying every.

“I’ve lived in Europe for 23 years and a lot of Europeans use me as intermediary, which means they want to be secured in what they do for integrity purposes so they come to me then I suggest who they can deal with when it comes to integrity in businesses. That is what Europeans do with me. I connected Nanol to Nigerians when they want to launch their products in Nigeria.”

He noted that he enjoy running his companies than a full time job in football.

“When it comes to football, I would like to function in the area of adviser because I can do that from a distance. I would not want to be a coach either because I don’t want to get myself under any kind of football stress.

“What I do around basically now is to scout for talented players who are young. I started doing that as an active footballer. I’ve scouted so many players. By the grace of God I’ve moved over 20 players abroad while I was playing and even now outside active football I still do it. I mentor players. I mentored Obafemi Martins, Ayodele Makinwa and many others that I don’t want to mention. It is something I do and would continue to do.”

A BUSINESSMAN AND A PASTOR

Aside from running three businesses, Ekong also runs a church, a calling he described as divine.

“Yes! My ministry is in Stockholm. I’m not doing religion but what I call reality. We are making people to understand that Christianity is not about you been poor or riches are not about good or bad but about spiritual life. That is what I call reality in Christ. The focus of Christianity has been shifted so much that when you are poor you are told to come to God so as to become rich. We bring it back to Christocentric (having Christ as its centre) so that when you read scripture you have to bring it back to the eye of Christ. And when you come to that realization and at all times, you don’t come to feed your stomach because if you come to the scripture because you are hungry, you have already lost focus.”

“I was privileged to have seen Jesus three times and the fourth time; he appeared to me at my villa in Sweden. It was an experience that no word can chronicle. So the next thing I did was to study and acquire more knowledge for the credentials given to me by God through His son, Jesus.

“He (Jesus) characteristically told me to bring his people together. I have been involved in the ministry for years; I travel around the world to visit helpless (people), prisoners and I have testified in churches to sportsmen and women.”

Ekong is serving pastor at The Centre International Church City Church in Sweden.

CAREER HISTORY

Retracing his football career to Lagos, Ekong said football opened doors for him.

“I actually started my football career with Okoloba FC in Tolu (the popular Ajegunle district in Lagos) and later moved to Albion FC Tolu and later to Eze Boys at the Maracana field. It was from there that I joined Julius Berger feeders and less than a year, I was offered a contract for the senior team.

“I turned down the contract because I was advised by Churchill Oliseh not to sign for any professional team in Nigeria because it may hamper collecting my International Transfer Certificate (ITC) on time.”

But on signing for Reggiana, Ekong was surplus to requirement because of his non- European status and was consequently farmed out as a loanee to Slovenian side, FC Koper. Between 1996 and 2000, he was further sent on loan to three other clubs including Tecos FC UAG in Mexico, AC Bellinzona in Switzerland and FCM UTA in Romania.

“My best (career) moment was in Italy because Serie A was the best league in the world then and was a great thing as a young player. I had fond memories of all the places I played but predominantly Italy because Italy was the introductory part to my living abroad.

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“Though I did not play under Carlos Ancelotti for so long, his explanation to the club to give me a contract as a young player was indispensable for me and  it was a turning point you may call it.

“Every talent needs a platform. He liked my style of play.  He is a calm person in nature, soft spoken and his success (as a coach) started with A.C Reggiana when he took the team to Serie A.”

After his Italian job, Ekong signed for Chinese Super League side, Changsha Ginde, in 2003 and he recalled with nostalgia his adventure to the Far East in Asia.

“Benedict Akwuegbu and I were the first Nigerians from Super Eagles to play in China,” he said.

“I had good experiences playing in China; my salary and match bonuses were not taxed.

“I can’t also forget the day I gave a copy of the Bible to all my teammates, sports director and owner of my club while on the bus going for a football match,” recalled the midfielder who later starred for Xiamen Lanshi.

Ekong remains a die-hard Super Eagles fan.

“A lot have been said about Eagles and their handler but I want to say that they have qualified Nigeria for the next Africa Cup of Nations and that is a compliment. Though, there is a whole lot yet to do when it comes to football in general. So, I think we need to wait and see what the future holds for them and see how their subsequent performances will be like. I don’t see Rohr as a messiah but as a good coach. We are still a struggling Super Eagles. Let’s say well done to what he has done and that there is still a lot to do.”

On Odion Ighalo’s return controversy, he said: “For me, as long as a player is active there is no limit for him been called to the national team? For example, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was recently recalled to the Sweden national team at the age of 39. He’s playing regularly in Italy and so there is a basis for his call. So, if Odion Ighalo is in good shape, good form, why not?”

Overall, his impression about Nigerian football is clear.

“It’s been a roller coaster and up and down. But, I think it would be better. There is something that we also need to begin to focus on. We need to focus on the grassroots because for so many years we have lost focus on grassroots. The private educational sector is also affecting sports at the grassroots. People like us played in the government school and so it was easy to be discovered in the secondary schools because there is a lot of a sports activity and from here we were spotted. But, today there is private schools all over the place that don’t have space for sports and before you discover talents now they are probably in the University. It is a big problem. It is an issue that we need to go back and deal with otherwise what will happen is that the foreign Nigerian born where grassroots football shrives will take over the national teams. It is as simple as that,” Ekong added.

FAMILY MAN

Easy to engage, Ekong also loves to talk about his family-aside God.

“I met my wife (Patricia) in 1997 and that was after I left for professional football in Italy and we met through a very dear friend, Kunle. It was Kunle that introduced me to the beautiful, alluring, church-going girl.

“Her desire was to marry a pastor when we met and she wasn’t interested in football or players but I think my kindness and a humble persona made her review and give me a trial

“It turned out good for us and my goodness, I am a pastor today. My wife has been very supportive from day one, she is compassionate and very open to reasoning.”

Today, his liaison with Patricia is blessed with six children, with double twins much to the pleasure of Pastor Ekong. “We have been married for 20 years and we have six children. Four boys and two girls, we had twins twice.

“All my four sons play football and they are all talented. It is the grace that came on them; after all, I obeyed (the voice of God) to quit playing football for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“My first son Emmanuel Ekong  is 16 years of age and plays for the Swedish national team; he’s also  contracted with Nike and gets about 6000 Euros worth of gears every year. He is with the youth team of Empoli FC of Italy.

“He combines his football career with education. He is driven to school back and forth with the club shuttle bus. Emmanuel plays piano too and he plays for our ministry whenever he is around with us.

“Shalom Ekong is 16 years and plays with an academy team here in Sweden while his twin sister, Sharon, is a designer and has a strong persona.

“Grace Ekong is 14years; she is a gospel singer. She plays the piano and sings so well for His glory.

“My twin boys, Elijah and Elisha Ekong, are 10 years and they both play for one of the best football academies here in Sweden. One is a goalkeeper and the other a midfielder like me,” added Ekong.

Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello is the executive director at FAME Foundation. She is a journalist of repute, gender rights advocate and a sport development enthusiast. She spoke with Samson Oti on why football is a unifying tool to communicate peace and reduce crime in Nigeria and how Odion Ighalo played major roles in sponsoring five girls to school on full scholarship and building initiatives to support the Nigeria communities.

As a journalist, how did you get into gender rights advocates? What inspires you?

Right from my childhood, I have always been involved in charitable work, it’s just in me naturally, and it’s something I am always happy to do at every point in time. Of course I don’t have a lot and I don’t have much but I always like to put smiles on people. It is part of my upbringing, part of what life has taught me and my personal experience. I have seen people going hungry; kids need education, finance and many more. Another thing that inspires me is that I see a lot of people who need help and they don’t know how to reach out, so setting up this agenda is to reach out to the less privileged people in the country. My inspiration is from the people that are less privileged and as a matter of fact I took it as personal responsibility to make a change in the life of girls and poor people.

Can you tell us about the program(s) your foundation run to motivate the needy?

Our foundation is strictly gender based, for women and girls. What we do is to formulate programs that are sustainable for women and girls. To empower abused, estranged and less privileged women and young girls with skills and education/counselling to fend for themselves and make a living. For example we have a program called PLAY It, Dream It, it is an initiative tool for the IDP girls in Abuja. We understand that the IDP camp gets support but we bring up this PLAY It Dream It as a means of using sports as a tool for development. And don’t forget that football is a unifying tool in Nigeria. We don’t educate through the means of religion but through what we find common that unite us as a nation, and that is football. Also we initiate another project for women in agriculture and women with disabilities. Like I said earlier, we have strategy-driven initiatives used to communicate as issues unfold. We run several campaigns against gender based violence.

How do you raise funds for these initiatives?

We get support from individuals, private companies, government agencies, international agencies and other people that are interested in what we do; talking about associates and friends. Also we get support from foreign organizations, some embassies also support us. We have been working with UN women, working with McArthur foundation, US Embassy, British High Commision and recently we started working with the Embassy of Switzerland. Yeah, it cannot be enough but we do appreciate every support that comes our ways. And whatever we have, we tried to channel it into appropriate places for the smooth and effective running of the foundation.

What are your goals for the next three to five years?

Our goal is to ensure that more girls are enrolling in schools and also to ensure that women with disability have equal rights.

What do you think your beneficiaries would say is the best thing about FAME?

Yeah… that will be Inclusivity. We don’t discriminate against anybody both poor and rich. We treat everyone the same way.

With all your efforts to support the Nigeria communities, have you been supported by the government?

Yes we work with the Ministry of Science and Technology for our girls with disabilities. We work with the National Orientation Agency to create awareness to some grassroots communities.

What is the most memorable moment in your career as a journalist?

I have had so many memories. Whenever I look back at my Facebook and see those flashbacks I will start laughing be cause they are all wonderful memories both as a journalist and Director of FAME. I have many memories and I can’t really say one is peculiar to me. Each project, each step is memorable. When I step out to some camp, I always see the joy of people having me around them, I always feel comfortable putting smiles on the face of people. Every work, every initiative is very peculiar to me. I recall, in 2016 when the Super Falcons were not paid their dues when they won the African Women Cup of Nations, I led them on a protest to the National Assembly, and they were paid under 48hrs.

What are the initial challenges before FAME?

I have two major challenges; number one major challenge is changing people’s mindset. Changing peoples’ minds is really tough; it takes us time in letting them understand what we are bringing to them. And don’t forget the fact that ignorance is a disease. You have to be calm to change people’s culture and communicate with them in the language they can understand. And I can still tell you that it is still a challenge till today but we are overcoming it gradually and people can see that we are genuine and real in helping people in the communities. To change people’s mind from cultural and religious beliefs. Another one is the challenge of funds but we are overcoming such a stage as well because we have been able to prove ourselves over the years and have been seeking support.

What influences your work being a journalist?

You need to know that I am an investigative journalist and I take pride in that and I don’t like injustice, and I don’t like people being treated badly and that is why I write a lot about corruption in the sport sector as you are aware. So, as an investigative journalist, a former sports editor, online editor and managing editor, I am experienced and I love my job. I love journalism. I love to investigate scenes and get my facts right. I am proud of my success stories as a journalist and it’s paying off for me now. My intention is to let people do the right thing without compromise. My agenda is to let people know what’s good from bad because they may not know the difference between the two.

As a woman of many parts, what do you, personally, spend most of your time on?

Naturally, I am always occupied, I am a busy person but I don’t joke with family, priority is priority and my family is my priority. I am a family woman and I take my family seriously at every point in time. If I am not working, I am with my family.

There was a post of you and former Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo sponsoring some girls on scholarships. Can you tell us more about the good gesture from the former Nigeria International?

In 2017, we built a campaign called One Girl One Pen which is an initiative of FAME foundation, we used One Girl One Pen as a tool to campaign against child brides in Nigeria and during this period reached out to people to help us get girls enrolled in schools and also give them scholarships. In the football circle, we were able to get Odion Ighalo who gave scholarships to five girls and Godfrey Oboabona who also gave scholarship to three girls respectively. It was actually a full scholarship that covers from school uniform to feeding, socks as well as stipends for means of transportation from their various homes to the school. We made it full in the sense that there won’t be any excuses from any of the girls to complain about transportation, because their villages could be far from the schools, so we make sure everything is intact for the scholarship package including school bags and books. I have to appreciate these great guys for what they have done to the girls.

How did you convince these players, especially Odion Ighalo, to believe in the initiative of sending girls to school on scholarship?

He’s a great guy that believes in what we do, he believes in our course for using sport as a tool for development in Nigeria communities. Being a sportsman, Ighalo knows that sport has a unifying power to preach for peace and when we are using this initiative to campaign Ighalo was supportive because he’s a natural giver as well. So it doesn’t really take much time to convince him for the scholarship, so also Godfrey Oboabona.

The decision to replace the conservative Vladimir Ivic with the unknown head coach has paid off with promotion.  For Watford to have joined Norwich in bouncing back to the Premier League at the first attempt, given the benefits of parachute payments in this of all years, is anything but surprising. But if their promotion was predictable their path to this point has been unusual, verging on the extraordinary.

This is a team that halfway through the campaign ranked first in the Championship on goals scored at home (22) and last on goals scored away (five). A team that a month earlier, feeling their chances of a successful end to the campaign slipping from their grasp, sacked their manager of four months and just 22 games and identified as his replacement a 40-year-old with rudimentary English whose experience as a head coach amounted to 11 matches in Georgia. And it is, a team that instead of fading after losing their captain and talisman to injury won 10 of their next 11 matches.

It has not been a good season for Troy Deeney, who started it talking about overtaking Luther Blissett as Watford’s all-time record goalscorer and proceeded to score just one goal from open play, a tap-in from two feet against Rotherham, in 14 starts (there were also six penalties). Watford won 46% of their matches before his season-ending injury, compared with 81% of those played since. But to blame him for the team’s struggles is to confuse correlation with causation, given other changes in shape, personnel and attitude that coincided with his injury.

The most obvious change was tactical: having started 26 of their first 28 games with a front two, in Deeney’s absence they switched to a three. In their first match without him they played for the first time with Ismaïla Sarr on the right, Ken Sema on the left and João Pedro in the middle, beat Bristol City 6-0 and haven’t looked back. Will Hughes, surely the best deep-lying midfielder in the Championship, was returning from injury and Francisco Sierralta, who before this season had started only 13 league games since moving to Europe from his native Chile in 2017 and played for just three minutes in Watford’s first 19 Championship fixtures, was emerging from complete obscurity to become one of the division’s outstanding centre-backs.

But the key change was in approach. As the season started there were players the club wanted to keep who were trying to leave, players the club wanted to leave who were trying to stay, and only a handful whose future was settled, a surprising number of whom seemed to be injured. Vladimir Ivic was initially forced to fashion a team from the able-bodied members of the final group, and with an under-strength side he focused on defensive solidity. It was a sensible approach, but when the transfer window closed the uncertainty lifted and Watford were left with one of the strongest squads in the division, the conservatism remained. The football was boring and not terribly successful, and eventually Ivic paid for it.

It is impossible to overstate how important a moment this was in the club’s history. Last Saturday, their promotion confirmed, their chairman and chief executive, Scott Duxbury, admitted “there were moments when it was touch or go whether we thought we could actually continue”, as with empty stadiums “we had to keep a team that was competitive with literally no income”. They had a strong squad, and maintained many of the apparently frivolous luxuries their players were used to from their Premier League days, such as overnight stays in Hertfordshire’s most exclusive hotel before every home game, in the knowledge none of it would be sustainable beyond a single season.

And in that moment, with the margin for error already used up by the unsuccessful gamble on Ivic, they made the breathtakingly brave, or perhaps foolhardy, decision to place the team in the hands of a man who had no knowledge of the players or of the Championship, who spoke little English, who had little managerial experience, and who was leaving his wife, his six-year-old daughter and his two-year-old son in Spain – he has not seen them on anything other than a screen since last December. Xisco Muñoz is a cheerful and instantly likeable character who has transformed both results and atmosphere, but he spoke on Saturday about how hard he found the first few weeks after his appointment and admitted he made many mistakes in this period.

Initial results under the Spaniard were mixed, and at the start of February they were shambolic in defeat at home by QPR and abysmal in drawing their next match at Coventry. Watford were fifth and losing touch with the leaders. “I felt that it wasn’t good enough, from how we played to the general feeling and the attitude of the team,” the defender William Troost-Ekong said. “We were negative and everyone was complaining. We looked like 11 islands instead of a team. I was driving home from the stadium and I called some of the boys.” The following day “we got in a room and had it out”. Of all the good calls that have led Watford to promotion, perhaps the most important were made from Troost-Ekong’s car that afternoon. They have won 13 of 16 games since.

Troost-Ekong and the rest of Watford’s defence have been the foundation of their success. Watford have allowed only 108 shots on target, the fewest outside the Premier League (by way of comparison the average of the Championship’s other top-six sides is 142), and had 22 clean sheets. In more than half of their games their goalkeeper has had to deal with two shots or fewer, and the victory on Saturday was their 11th 1-0 win.

The attack has been less convincing. Deeney was poor and then injured, Isaac Success injured and then poor, and Andre Gray just poor. João Pedro, still only 19, is best when dropping deep and linking play, leaving the attack missing a goalscorer and heavily reliant on the outstanding Sarr. The 22-year-old has started 39 games and finished 36 of those, top-scored from the right wing, been fouled more than any other player in the Championship and, like Emi Buendía at Norwich and Arnaut Danjuma at Bournemouth, is simply a bit too good for the division. So are Watford – but it was uncomfortably close.

Speedy striker Ugochukwu Oduenyi has remained focus after his dream to play at Manchester City fell short in 2015. He must have stumbled but quickly picked himself up after training with top players in the team under the tutelage of Manuel Pellegrini. He had high hopes of remaining at the imposing Etihad Stadium by signing for the English Champions but talks broken down between the club and his representative. The talented striker who currently plays for FC Minaj of Ukraine speaks with Taiwo Alimi and Samson Oti about his experience at the Etihad Stadium, relationship with Kelechi Iheanacho and the hopes of rerouting his career back to top flight in the future.

You were a product of Emmanuel Amuneke Academy; tell us about your journey to Manchester City training ground?

It was amazing! If there is any word I would use to describe it, it would be amazing! The enthusiasm started from Nigeria knowing that I am going to the United Kingdom to sign for a club like Manchester City. Honestly, it was amazing!

There was a picture of you and Kelechi Iheanacho in Man City…

Yes yes! I actually met Kelechi Iheanacho in the team! My seat at in the locker room was next to his, so we were always taking pictures hahaha! But it wasn’t just pictures with Kelechi, I also had pictures with Aguero , Yaya Toure, Jesus Navas , just like that! But with Kelechi we were more close at that time and he helped me a lot.

How were the feelings meeting Manchester City players like Aguero, Vincent Kompany and others?

I felt so proud of course! It gave me a lot of confidence that I was at the right path taking football as my career. I could remember that I used to watch these big players at a local viewing center in Nigeria, and meeting and just being in the same space as them was for me at that time a dream, talk less of taking part in training with them.

 So what happened, you couldn’t seal the deal?

I couldn’t know much about the breakdown, but all seemed to be going very well. Patrick Vieira was speaking very well about me. I think it’s based on negotiations from the club and my representative. I really don’t know.

Do you have any regret not signing for Manchester City?

I don’t think regret is the right word because it wasn’t in my hands, but I think sad would be the right word. So it was sad not signing for Manchester City of course but I have zero regret over

my career as a footballer. It was sad that I couldn’t make up that great opportunity but I think I have to accept the fact that it was a journey for me. It was not my time. Of course, I might have fallen in love and want the move so bad but God at his time makes the perfect move for every player and that is why I so much believe that God’s time is the best. My moment will come. I am sure of that. I had moved on my career even though not to the extent I had wanted but I am working hard on a daily basis to achieve a greater height and cover the lost time. I am just working hard to get back to that level (EPL). I was there before and I believe I can be there again through hard work, determination and of course a bit of luck as well.

You signed for FC Minaj of Ukraine in the January window, how is life and football in Ukraine compared to your experience in Manchester City earlier?

I have never been to Ukraine, this is my first time and I must be very honest with you that the cold in Ukraine is really much compared to some other countries I have been to. Ukraine is extremely cold but I am adapting to the general life in the country. As a player, I have to adapt to such conditions with focus to become a better player and help my team and prove myself as a striker and I believe with time everything will be fine!

Shortly after you signed for FC Minaj, the coach who brought you was sacked for poor performance.

The game of football is all about going and coming. It is an established philosophy not only football but also in life generally, there’s no permanent champion, and life itself is spherical. I am very sad the coach left, I am grateful to him for bringing me in. Of course, he brought me and I would have wanted him to continue but it’s the decision of the club to bring me here as well to hire a new coach. Yes, the new coach has come, with his own ideas, his own philosophy. He hasn’t given me so much opportunity as I would want but I am patient and working hard and waiting for my moment. In a situation where clubs change coaches, players have to remain focused and keep working hard to justify your inclusion at any given opportunities. I am focusing on giving my best for the club. Working hard is my priority which I am doing already. I am focused, determined to help the team as well as to maintain 100% fitness rate.

FC Minaj are at the bottom of the table. Do you think you and the new coach have the magic to remain in the top league with three games to go?

Yes. We are at the bottom of the table, so sad for me but ultimately, I do not believe we are relegating. We are not going to relegate and I am very confident about it. As well as I have huge faith in the team and my team mates. We know the circumstances that could give us victory by going ruthless and fighting as a team to ensure the team remains in the topflight with the remaining three important games. I believe we have a great chance, we have a great squad. We must believe in ourselves.  This is football, we don’t need to write ourselves off, we have a great chance, and it’s all about fighting for each other on the pitch and achieving the maximum target at the end.

In the pre-season games in Turkey, you scored some wonderful goals that mentally prepared you for games in Ukraine but you are yet to score for the club this season?

You are right that I had a good pre-season. I finished the pre season highest goal scorer with four goals. But like I said, I am adapting to life in Ukraine and don’t forget that I had issues with my paperwork when the second stage of the season started, and had to fly back to Belgium to sort out some papers before I returned back to Ukraine. Shortly after that time, I was injured from a tackle in training, and by the time i got back to fitness, our former coach had been sacked. We played the first friendly game under him and I scored again. Since the new coach came I haven’t been given enough opportunity but the team comes first before me. The coach chooses the team and if I am playing I will give everything and if I am not playing I will wait till I  get my chance. I remain disciplined, focused and calm. I will not let the fact that I didn’t get playing time affect me mentally, This is football.

Your style of play looks like Roman Lukaku of Inter Milan? 

Lukaku is a great player who has worked hard to reach that peak of his career. He plays total football when he was in England and his experience is paying off for him in Inter Milan. I have big respect for him. People say I play like him, but sincerely speaking I am not in his level yet but one day who knows. He’s a fantastic player and a role model! I admire him.

Where is the most beautiful place you have ever been to?

I have been to a lot of beautiful countries in Europe but I think the best place for now is Cyprus. It is a wonderful country.

If you were to choose between Messi and Ronaldo as the world’s best, who would you pick?

The truth of the matter is that the debate of both players will never end, they are two greatest players but I will choose Cristiano Ronaldo.

If not that you play football, what would you have become as a person?

It is football or nothing, I never compromise it.

Away from the hide-and-seek game between the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and Edo State over the funding of the of the on-going 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) in Benin City, the Edo State Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu in an interactive session with the media speaks candidly about the state’s desirous efforts to revive its sports as well as some inherent advantages of hosting the country’s equivalent of the Olympics Games. MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN captured below excerpts from the thought –provoking session….

Between Obaseki and Shaibu

Governor Godwin Obaseki and I  have this comradeship that we share and  wherever we are , we must identify ourselves even in the cave. We understand the language of sport and we are lucky  in Edo to have a Governor that actually believe in sport;  luckily, I am a sports man and not just  for the interest alone,  I have  played  football for instance right from my school days up till now. So beyond that passion, it’s a privilege for us to be in charge and to reposition sports and discover of new talents in Edo State; we are providing the enabling environment for our youths.

Combining schooling with Sports

In the past,  there’s always setback  with parents believing only those that go to school can make it; but our focus is to ensure that our children can actually combine schooling with sports  and we don’t want our parents to be obstacle to  our children  from achieving their dreams of education with sports.  So apart from the facilities we have on ground at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and other centres  in Benin City, we have mini stadia across all the local governments  and in some schools;  henceforth, our Children will be in schools and they can also achieve their dreams of participating in sports because there are facilities within their localities.

Public and private partnership

We have decided to go with the option of doing what they do in advanced countries; we want our sports to be private sector driven. But as we all know, the private sector are selfish and they won’t just throw money at you without enough leverage for their own products.  Government duty is to provide enabling environment like facilities, creating actors to buy in, so when the facilities and actors are involved it will attract the private sector to drive their own products too. As a government, we need to provide the facilities and the first task is to make Sam Ogbemudia Stadium a sports complex with beehive of activities. Apart from this and with mini stadia spread across the nooks and crannies of the state, children in faraway village would not have to travel to Benin where Sam Ogbemudia Stadium is located to participate in sporting activities.

Turning Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to sports complex

While Sam Ogbemudia Stadium is the headquarters, we have replicated smaller version in our schools in each local government so that children will now be able to combine education with sports.

As such, the  dreams of our parents to  see that their children become a  medical doctor would be achieved while the dream of having Doctor  Socrates ( the Brazilian legendary footballer who is a medical doctor)  of our time can also be achieved by children who so desired. Instead of doing sporting activities  in open fields, we want to replicated what we have at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium  in our schools that have  the  space and we will build the facilities with tracks and by the side a lawn tennis court, marking for the handball, volleyball, basketball. So when you check that particular school, you’ll  have a  field with a football pitch ;  space  for track and field events such as javelin, short put, track events etc. At  the end of the day, that particular school  apart from football , will have facilities for handball, volleyball, lawn tennis and basketball.

More competitions in the offing

We want to go back to the olden days when Edo State  was synonymous with sports; and we want to revive the Principals Cup, Governor’s Cup inter school games and  inter house games. All of them are coming back alive  and we know it’s our duty to ensure that all of these are done well. In the first or two years, we might not get any return or attract sponsorships  but with time, the private sector will be forced to buy into our vision;  gradually there would be competition on who want to sponsor what?

Maintenance of  Edo 2020 Facilities.

We are going to have an independent maintenance agency which is already on and they are understudying  the contractor because the contractor will not  stay for a long time. They would have to

transfer the technology to our own maintenance agency. Meanwhile,  the best  way to maintain the facilities is to engage the facility on sporting activities because if  we don’t  engage the facilities , the walls  and other amenities will be soon be dilliapidated.But when there is life in the structure through different games we can truly maintain the facilities  and all our competitions will be structured in such a way that every quarter there is final at the  Samuel  Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City while  every month there would be  finals  at  the local government levels. There would be no competition that a team from Edo will go to at the national level without a competition to determine the representative of the state.

Multi-purpose plans

We are not looking at only football but all other sports because we want our children to be able to decide their potentialities across all fields. For us as a  state, we are using this National Sports Festival to relaunch ourselves back to what Edo State used to be. Edo is the native land of sports in Nigeria  and we want to reclaim  our  sporting heritage. It is our collective dream as a state to identify and nurture talents  that will lift the image of our country. By the grace of God, this structure would be maintained and sustained; at the end of the day,  all of us would be excited to be part of new generation of Nigerians.  It is our dream in Edo State to contribute more athlete in all events to  represent our country at international competitions.