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Tag: Segun Odegbami

  • At The Platform, Odegbami hails  Tinubu’s huge  support for  Sports 

    At The Platform, Odegbami hails  Tinubu’s huge  support for  Sports 

    By Daniel Oyekan

    Erstwhile Green  Eagles captain and respected sports administrator, Segun Odegbami, has praised President Bola Ahmed  Tinubu  on his commitment to sports development, describing his administration as the most supportive of Nigerian sports since 1979.

    Fielding questions at The Platform Lagos, a thought-leadership forum themed “Rebuilding Our Nation” , Odegbami stressed that sports hold a “spiritual power that can unify the country, transform lives, and cut across every sector of development.”

    He  said  the country’s bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games is in  the right direction, adding  sports  have become a good tool  in reshaping  the society as evidenced in many climes.

    He said matter-of-factly: “With the preparations taking seven years and what it impacts cutting across the whole spectrum of life, we need to take sport more seriously.

    “The power in it is almost spiritual. When a goal is scored, it’s just a goal, but the whole country celebrates as if it’s a victory for everyone. That is power we must convert into something positive.”

    The 1980 AFCON winner described sport as more than just entertainment, noting its influence on health, agriculture, engineering, law, and the media. He, however, lamented that Nigeria has continued to underutilize this vast potential.

    Dwelling further  on the  bid for the Centenary Commonwealth Games, Odegbami acknowledged past failures such as the “reckless spending”  on the  2003 African  Games, but expressed optimism under the current administration.

    Read Also: Aiyegbeni, Oshaniwa berate NFF for blaming  Ekong, Dessers for Super Eagles’ woes 

     “I have seen that President Tinubu has injected more money than any other president since 1979 into sports,” he said. “He has brought in two young people(leadership of the National Sports Commission in Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade), with a vision we can identify with. If they put in place a proper board with respected Nigerians, there is a very good possibility that the Commonwealth Games could open up opportunities such as we never had before.”

    Beyond sports development, Odegbami also reflected on Nigeria’s broader potential, urging citizens to believe in the country’s ability to lead Africa and the world.

    “Nigeria could be the greatest country in the world,” he declared. “The evidence is all around us. Afro musicians are dominating the world, and the future belongs to Africa. We must believe it can be done.”

    As Nigeria marks 65 years of independence, the ex-international also called on Nigerians to rally behind the Super Eagles ahead of their World Cup qualifiers.

     “It is unthinkable that in the past two years we have produced the two greatest players in Africa, yet we cannot qualify for the World Cup. Let’s support the Super Eagles. Let’s believe in them,” noted  Odegbami who earned the nickname  ‘Mathematical’  for his precision in front of  the goal post and brilliant style of play.

  • Odegbami:  Gateway Games has restored original objective of National Sports Festival

    Odegbami:  Gateway Games has restored original objective of National Sports Festival

    Former Green Eagles’ captain  Segun Odegbami has lauded the organization and template of the on-going National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2024, saying that it has restored the original objectives of the founding fathers, which was initiated in the aftermath of the Nigerian civil war to foster bonding and unity among Nigerians.

    Odegbami, a Grand Sports Ambassador for the games, gave this commendation during an interview with TVC.

    Praising the vision of the Dapo Abiodun-led administration for the games, Odegbami said housing of athletes, transport logistics, and the provision of facilities during the 22nd  edition of the festival were unique and would enhance the discovery of young talents.

    He also lauded the Federal Government for integrating a contingent of young athletes outside of the state contingents to compete at the games.

    He said: “The objective really is to compete; we are talking sports, so young people are back. In fact, the Federal Government, through the National Sports Commission, brought in a contingent of young, talented athletes, different from all the other athletes from the states, to come and compete with whatever the states brought together.

    “That has brought focus to the discovery of young talents again, and you could see the celebration that this has caused.

    Read Also: NFF mourns demise of former FIFA referee Momoh

    “That team has started winning medals; they are not representing any state in the country. In the past, we used to have this shenanigan where states would go and hire athletes from different places, and so on, which diluted the products that we had.

    “But now it appears that everything is going back to focus; all the athletes, over 12,000 of them, are housed in a village, so they are together.

    “You can imagine what is going on there: true integration. Young people from different parts mingling, eating, and all of that.

    “By the time they leave that place, it is eternal friendship, the original objective for which the games were set up.

    “So little things like that are happening in the Gateway Games that were not there before, and this is helping us to restore those objectives for which the National Sports Festival was set up.”

    Odegbami, who recalled that his football career started at the NSF in the 1973 festival, said the festival gave him the opportunity to represent the country, adding that the organisers of Ogun 2024 had done a terrific job in structuring the festival along the same path of talent discovery.

    “I was a young student; I was in school in Ibadan, and I was invited to play for the Western State team. I went in there, played my first international match, and realized that I was even good for the first time.

    “I went to the festival, and after it, I was invited to the national team in December of 1973. That was the beginning. I was not part of the team that put this together. Whoever did it did a terrific job. I just came in two weeks ago when I was made Grand Sports Ambassador, and I have been looking at what is going on, and I must confess that I am amazed.

    “It is like there was a vision, and that vision encapsulates what I had been thinking needed to be done to harness the opportunities that exist in this kind of game.

    “The first is this: you see, the sports themselves, the running and jumping, are the least activities in the games.

    “The greater activity is putting the festival together—where would they (the athletes) stay, where would they eat, how would they be transported, what kind of security would you need, and so on and so forth.

    “That takes up almost 90 percent of this entire project. To put together those things is mind-boggling.

    “Once you start focusing on those systems, you create an ecosystem: cultural, economic, and so on. So, for the first time, we are looking at developing an ecosystem out of these games,” he added.

  • Gateway Games will deliver sports-driven night economy, says Odegbami

    Gateway Games will deliver sports-driven night economy, says Odegbami

    Former Nigeria International,  Segun Odegbami, has revealed that Ogun State will soon witness the emergence of a viable and sustainable night economy driven by sports.

    Odegbami, who is the Grand Sports Ambassador of Ogun State, revealed that he has begun working to establish the envisaged sports – driven night economy to enhance the State’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP) and that of the country, Nigeria.

    He disclosed this in an interview on the side-line of the on-going 22nd  National Sports Festival holding in the state, stressing that he had been given the mandate by the state government to make the dream a reality.

    He said: “I have been given mandate to develop sports economy beyond the festival and to develop an environment for night economy – all driven by sports.

    “The sports economy and a night economy driven by sports. The second thing to put in place is environment and facilities at events and places that will generate safe   good cultural and social activities in the night in different parts of Ogun State. It is beyond the games, during and beyond the games.

    “We are just beginning. We look at the facilities we have and the environment we have and we start to create  events, places and environment that generate an economy that adds to the Gross  Domestic Product of the state. So, it is going to be very interesting.”

    Read Also: Gateway Games Ogun 2024: ‘Sparkling-splendour’ opening ceremony delights Dare

    Speaking in the same vein  at his press conference  yesterday in Abeokuta, the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olapade, said  the Gateway Games Ogun 2024, would  boost the economy of the state, adding over 10 million pieces of  famous Adire fabric  have already being sold within just four days.

    Olopade made this known during a press conference held at the  Media Centre situated at the Cultural Centre in Abeokuta.

    “I know authoritatively that in the last four days, we have sold over 10 million Adire clothing,  over 10 million,” he said.

     “I know because their direct sellers are complaining now that they are out of stock/

     “We have more demand than supply right now.

     “The impact of sport cannot be over-emphasised, because of this festival, we have witnessed building of new roads, health care infrastructure development, and capacity building visibility.

     “Hotels in Abeokuta are recording high patronage due to this festival. This is part of the economic impacts of sport. Sport does not only unite people, it boosts the economy of a nation.

     “Over three hundred small scale businesses are operating inside the stadium in 2006. People became multimillionaires, people showed me houses that they built after the games and they are there again doing their business.

    “ When you go to Babcock on the entrance of Babcock over a hundred small scale businesses are there because of this game,” Olopade added.

  • Odegbami, Osoba endorse Southwest Games

    Odegbami, Osoba endorse Southwest Games

    Ex-Super Eagles captain Chief Segun Odegbami and former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba have thrown their weights behind the much-anticipated South West Games 2025.

    He commended the vision behind the tournament, emphasizing its potential to revive grassroots sports and strengthen the sporting culture across the Southwest region.

    “The South West Games 2025 is a visionary project that will not only harness the immense sporting potential within the region but also create opportunities for young athletes to showcase their talents on a grand stage. I commend the organizers for their dedication to this historic event, and I fully support its success,” Odegbami stated.

    Read Also: NFF set to organize  CAF B-License Coaching Course

    Similarly, Osoba lauded the initiative as a timely intervention that will harness the immense potential of young athletes while also serving as a unifying force for the region.

     “The South West Games 2025 is an exemplary initiative that will promote sports development and deepen the historical and cultural connections among South West states. I commend the organisers for their dedication to this noble cause, and I wholeheartedly lend my support to its success,” Osoba stated.

    Scheduled to take place later this month, the South West Games 2025 will bring together 1,200 athletes and 120 officials from all six South West states, promising an electrifying display of talent and competition.

    A major highlight of the Games is the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Southwest Alliance Games (BATSWAG), a flagship sub-tournament dedicated to identifying and nurturing young talents under the age of 18.

  • AFCON 2019: Nigeria’s match against Algeria will be tough — Odegbami

    Segun Odegbami, an ex-international, said on Sunday that the semi-final between Nigeria and Algeria at the ongoing African Cup of Nations(AFCON) would be tough.

    Odegbami made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Ota, Ogun.

    He noted that the Super Eagles needed to listen to their coach and technical crew as the match between them and the Desert Foxes of Algeria “would be hard.”

    “Our success when the Green Eagles played against Algeria in the final of the 1980 Nations Cup that we won by 3-0 should inspire the present Super Eagles to victory.” he said.

    Read Also: UPDATED: AFCON 2019: Super Eagles fly to semi-finals

    The ex-international, however, advised the Super Eagles to fight from the beginning to the end of the match against the Desert Foxes ” as it would be a difficult one.”

    NAN reports that Odegbami, who played for the Green Eagles in the finals of the 1980 Cup of Nations, scored two goals against Algeria.

    NAN

  • Russia 2018: Time for Africans to be champions – Odegbami

    Ex-Nigeria international and sports administrator, Segun Odegbami, on Monday urged an African country to bring the World Cup to the continent.

    Odegbami told our reporters in Ota, Ogun State, that instead of mere participation in the tournament, it was time an African country to return home with the cup which had eluded the continent since the championship started in 1930.

    The sports administrator was reacting to the outcome of the just concluded Russia 2018 World Cup which France won by defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final in Moscow.

    France won the World Cup for the second time in a spectacular style in one of the most entertaining and action-packed games of the tournament.

    Read Also: Odegbami sends Goodwill Message

    The ex-international stressed the need for an African country to work hard so as to join the list of World Cup winners.

    Odegbami, however, commended France for their brilliant efforts to win the 2018 World Cup.

    According to him, the trophy went to the team that deserved it, adding that the French team used the final match to stamp their foot in the competition.

    “I salute France and all our African brothers in the victorious team for doing the black man proud,” he said.

    NAN

  • Nigeria will be ready for World Cup in 2022 – Odegbami

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    Former Nigerian international, Chief Segun Odegbami has advised Nigerians to be humble, and not expect much from the Super Eagles as they go into the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off in Russia today.

    The 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner gave this advice in Channel Televison’s Sunrise Daily”.

    Odegbami expressed joy in the fact that for the first time, the players have no problems as regards finance, which suggests a possibility of a good outing in Russia. But, he cautioned that it would be too much for Nigerians to expect the Super Eagles to win the World Cup in this edition.

    Odegbami analysed: “They had a good outing, defeating Argentina in a friendly match, and I think that is the best preparation we can have going to the World Cup, because the odds tip them as one of the favourites to win the World Cup.

    “But looking at their recent friendly results can stir up some worries. I think those results should be a wake-up call to the coaches, not to allow what happened against Argentina to dominate their thoughts. They should realise that they are going into the most difficult football competition and should be prepared for it.

    “As we go, I want Nigerians to be humble. We should enjoy the World Cup and show respect to our opponents. Those of us that will be watching on television should enjoy the tournament, and not hope that Nigeria will win the World Cup because we cannot win it. We don’t have the team that can win on July 15, but we can go a bit far at the tournament.”

    Odegbami believed that tagging the Super Eagles as underdogs, even against their first opponents Croatia is a good thing. For him, Nigeria could spring surprises during the tournament.

    “The Super Eagles can sometimes be like Arsenal, who play like potential world champions today and then play like secondary school students tomorrow. That is why I said they cannot win the World Cup because to be champions require consistency,” he said.

    Read Also: Odegbami sends Goodwill Message

    The former national team captain said that the current Super Eagles squad was a team for the future and not the current World Cup. He said the team should be ready to explode in the 2022 World Cup.

    Odegbami explained: “For the first time, we have a team that is playing like a team, but we don’t have any exceptional player in the mould of a Jay-Jay Okocha or Nwankwo Kanu or Muda Lawal, people who can on their own take up responsibility and do exceptional things for the team. The only person that comes close in our current team is Victor Moses.  So we are going to the World Cup with a future team. Thanks to Coach Gernot Rohr, there is much more understanding in this team than our previous Super Eagles.”

    Speaking on the issue of the goalkeepers, Odegbami observed that the Super Eagles do not have problem with the goalkeepers, but with the defence line. “We have a tall and good-statured Francis Uzoho, and we have an energetic Ikechukwu Ezenwa, who is like the Best Ogedengbe of those days, but they depend on the defence line, which is where I think we have problems.  I think we have good goalkeepers that will do well.”

    The FIFA World Cup begins on Thursday, June 14, 2018 in Moscow, and Nigeria kick off their campaign two days later against Croatia, in a match Odegbami thinks the Super Eagles will perform poorly “but will pick up against Iceland, and will be in the form of their lives against Argentina. I see Nigeria progressing to the second round.”

  • Odegbami sends Goodwill Message

    As 3SC Unveils Taye Currency as Ambassadors

    As plans are being concluded to unveil Ibadan based ace fuji musician Taye Akande Adebisi, popularly known as ‘Currency’ and a media guru Mr. Olayinka Agboola as Ambassadors of the darling team of the people of Ibadan, the Shooting Stars Sporting Club (3SC), one of Africa’s football legends, Chief Segun Odegbami, MON, has sent a goodwill message to the organizers and the Ambassadors.

    The former 3SC topmost striker who said he would not be available physically on Thursday when the event will be holding at the Lekan Salami Stadium said in the good will message “I wish you well Olayinka and Taye Currency. You carry the banner of some of Nigeria’s great football ambassadors. It behoves on you to sustain the rich winning tradition of the Shooting Stars. I wish you well. Good luck my brothers with your challenging assignment, you deserve this honour!

    Also expected that the event which starts by 12 noon are members of the Oyo State Executive council including Barrister Abayomi Oke, the commissioner in charge of Youths and Sports in the state.

    Read Also: Housekeeper ‘steals’ Odegbami’s wife’s N150m jewellery

    The event scheduled to hold at the Heirs Place, Gate 4, (Beside Tennis Court), Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan will also be witnessed by notable personalities in the Oyo State football family.

    Earlier, the recipients in their remarks pledged to use their connections and clout to generate more mileage for the traditional club-side

    Olayinka Agboola, the publisher of the popular ParrotXtra magazine and www.pmparrot.com in his acceptance speech thanked the leadership of Shooting stars supporters club and pledged to lure back other big personalities that have been long-standing followers of the club back to the stand to watch the team live.

    Currency also expressed his joy to be considered as an ambassador of the ancient football club-side.

  • Odegbami urges Nigerians to support Eagles against Zambia

    Odegbami urges Nigerians to support Eagles against Zambia

    An ex-international, Segun Odegbami, has appealed to Nigerians to support the Super Eagles in their match against the Chipolopolo of Zambia on Saturday in Uyo.

    Odegbami on Friday in Ota, Ogun state said that this would qualify them for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.

    Super Eagles, topping the Group B with 10 points, had earlier beat Chipolopolo of Zambia at home by 2-1 in the first leg.

    According to him, Nigerians should support Super Eagles through vocal and their prayers, because it is a game that Nigeria must win.

    ”We must do everything possible to win the match so that we can qualify for Russia 2018 World Cup,” he said.

     Odegbami, however, implored Nigerians to turn out massively at the Godwin Akpabio Stadium in Uyo to lift up the Super Eagles’ spirits.

    The ex-international also urged Nigerians to leave the technical aspect to the coaching crews to decide.

    NAN

  • Odegbami’s housekeeper arraigned for theft of jewellry, others

    Odegbami’s housekeeper arraigned for theft of jewellry, others

    Rose Patrick, the 25-year-old housekeeper of Mrs. Oyindamola Odegbami, wife of ex-Green Eagles captain, Segun Odegbami, was on Wednesday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing N150 million worth of jewellry.

    She was arranged alongside the complainant’s driver, Mohammed Abdulazeez, 26, and one Esther Pam, before Magistrate Y.O. Aje-Afunwa on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    According to the prosecutor, Insp. Peter Nwangwu, the defendants allegedly committed the offence on December 10, 2016 at Mrs. Odegbami’s residence at Bourdillon Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    He said the complainant, on that day, discovered that her jewellery and some personal effects, were missing from the bedroom.

    The prosecutor said: “The missing personal effects include a set of Roberto Coin Gold set valued at $15,000 (N7.5million), a set of Van Clef Diamond and Gold Butterfly Jewellery valued at $50,000 (N25million).

    “A dangling gold jewellery set valued at $50,000 (N25million), a set of black and white diamonds valued at $75,000 (N37.5million) and a plain gold set valued at $15,000 (N7.5million).

    “A big set of gold and diamond encrusted pendant valued at $50,000 (N25million) as well as other valuable personal and household items such as an iPad, three blackberry mobile phones and six Ankara fabrics, among others.

    “After noticing that the items were missing, Mrs. Odegbami came to the realization that her housekeeper who had been absent from work for over two weeks might be responsible for the theft.”

    “The complainant later reported the matter to the police and Patrick was arrested at the home of her boyfriend, one Cpl. Mathias Hussein, a mobile policeman attached to Mopol 43, Lion Building, Obalende, Lagos.