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  • Ezeji  clears air on  alleged fraudulent  act

    Ezeji  clears air on  alleged fraudulent  act

    By Joshua Osinowo

    Former Nigerian international footballer Victor Ezeji has spoken for the first time about allegations that he defrauded some individuals in Port Harcourt, which led to his invitation by the Rivers State Police Command and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos.

    Ezeji, a former striker for Sharks, Dolphins, Enyimba and Heartland, said the matter stemmed from a business misunderstanding involving his company but not for  any fraudulent act.

     “First and foremost, I am not a criminal and have never been involved in any crime all my life — and I never will be,” he said. “I used my God-given talent to make a name and living for myself and my family. For 20 years, I followed my passion for football, served my country and worked hard to be a good citizen.”

    The ex-footballer explained that after retiring from the game, he ventured into the oil and gas business, where his wife also serves as a director.

     “On this occasion, sometime in June while I was away, she transacted business with a couple of persons. She lifted diesel of about 60,000 litres from the depot and supplied it to two service stations and a hotel,” he said.

    According to him, the unpredictable nature of the business environment and logistic issues around payment may have caused the misunderstanding that led to the dispute.

     “At that point, perhaps my wife, who handled the transaction, was under severe pressure to settle the payment. I also guess she couldn’t withstand those involved. As I speak, I haven’t seen her since the matter was reported to the police,” he added.

    Ezeji said he was invited by the police as the owner of the company and honoured the invitation.

    Read Also: NFF D-License coaching course takes off in Abuja

     “I reported to the police, who called the complainant, and we began discussions to resolve the matter. That was ongoing when reports of my alleged arrest surfaced,” he explained.

    “A few days later, the EFCC invited me to its Lagos office after another petition was submitted. I travelled to Lagos, and by the grace of God, we are now on the verge of settling the issue.”

    Ezeji maintained that it was purely a business issue and not a criminal act.

     “I am not blaming those involved for taking the matter to the police and EFCC. They are businesspeople trying to recover their money. I hold nothing against them,” he said. “But I must say clearly,  I am not a criminal and will never be. I didn’t defraud anyone.”

    He further urged the public not to judge him based on the earlier reports.

     “Members of the public, my friends, colleagues, and partners shouldn’t see me in the light portrayed by that earlier report,” he said. “It is unfortunate that I was not contacted for my side of the story before such a damaging report was published. I am a law-abiding Nigerian and will remain so.”

  • Ezeji slams club managers over continental flop

     

    *condemns must win at home syndrome

    Former Super Eagles ace and Veteran of the Nigerian Professional Football League, Victor Ezeji has lampooned club managers in the country over the dismal outing of Nigerian representatives this season in the CAF Champions league and Confederation Cup respectively.

    He noted that their erroneous believe that they know it all and not open to advice is having negative influence on the quality of the league, and if not checked will soon reduce Nigerian club sides to mere spectators and not contenders on the continent.

    “The club managers just believe they know it all, sometimes they take decisions that produce negative result. Imagine where a club offloads as many as 10 players and recruits 10 new players mid season how will they blend and what kind of result do you expect?, he queried adding that competing on the continent requires hard work and proper planning.

    The club managers were however not the only ones that got knocks from the former Sharks and Enyimba ace as the league players were not left out. Players he said must remove the mentality that they cannot win away. A good player and a good team is one that is capable of winning both home and away.

    “Win at home syndrome has affected our players’ mentality and that is very bad. They simply believe they can’t win away and that is not the attitude you need to compete on the continent,” he said

    Four Nigerian club sides namely Enyimba, MFM, Akwa United and league defending champions Plateau united began the chase for a place in the group stage of the Champions league and Confederation cup but only Enyimba made it to the group stage of the Confederation Cup after playing a 1-1 draw with Bidvest of South Africa away and holding the visitors to a goalless draw at home.

    Enyimba who made history winning the CAF Champions league back to back in 2003 and 2004 have been drawn in the Confederation cup group stage against Cara Brazzaville of Congo, Djoliba of Mali, and Williamsville of Cote d Ivoire.

    The people’s elephant who have been tipped to put in a good fight, will open their group stage battle with a clash against Djoliba on May 6th, take on Cara Brazzaville on May 16 and Williamsville on July 17.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ezeji cautions Eagles against wasting chances

    Ezeji cautions Eagles against wasting chances

     

    CHAN Eagles currently competing in Morocco must learn to take their chances if they are to go beyond the Group stage.

    Veteran of the Nigerian premier league Victor Ezeji who made the submission in reaction to the team’s first outing against Amavubis of Rwanda Monday, noted that the Salisu Yusuf led side were guilty of creating chances which unfortunately they could not convert. While observing that the team played under pressure, the former Sharks and Enyimba forward however opined that it is possible to overcome the pressure which he added is normal as far as Nigeria is concerned.

    “As a Nigerian already you are under pressure because we always want to win so definitely they are playing under pressure but they can overcome the pressure, be more coordinated in their next match that is the only way they can emerge from the group,” he said

    Eagles pulled an unexpected draw against Rwanda firing as many as 23 shots in the game with just three on target. Ezeji further advised the Eagles not to allow the victory Libya earned against Equatorial Guinea to distract them, adding that they stand a good chance of winning with extra commitment.

    “If we had won perhaps we would have been complacent even in the next match but now that the team lost and Libya won, it is likely that the Libyans may want to take things easy as group leaders so we must play to win and not allow the fact that Libya leads the group to affect our performance,” he submitted

    CHAN Eagles coach Salisu Yusuf agrees that his boys created chances but failed to convert.  He however expressed hope that the boys will be more purposeful in the next match against Libya billed for January 19.”We created chances but failed to score. If we keep creating chances and hopefully take them, we can beat any team in this tournament. “he added

     

     

     

     

  • Ezeji hails Tornadoes despite defeat

    Ezeji hails Tornadoes despite defeat

     

    Aiteo Cup runners up Niger Tornadoes have been given a pat on the back despite finals defeat by Akwa United, Sunday at the Agege Stadium.

    The Minna based side currently based in Lokoja, got the commendation from veteran of the Nigerian Premier league, Victor Ezeji.  The former Enyimba striker opined that Tornadoes performed above expectation adding that they actually caged Akwa United who had been tipped by some analysts ahead of the tie to have a jolly ride.

    “I believe Tornadoes had a good game. They succeeded in caging their opponents and were just unlucky not to have won,” he said.

    The former Dolphins and Sharks forward while congratulating Akwa United for emerging champions however noted that all the teams representing the country at the continental level need to work harder as continental challenge is not a tea party.

    “There is always room for improvement so teams going to the continent must prepare well to hold their own at that level,” he submitted.

    Chairman of Akwa United Paul Bassey had earlier described the team’s victory as an act of God revealing that a point during the penalty shootout the odds appeared to favour Tornadoes who unfortunately recorded a costly miss that turned the table.

    League champions Plateau United and runners up MFM will be flying the Nation’s flag next season in the CAF Champions league while two time champions league winners Enyimba and Akwa United will compete in the CAF Confederation Cup.

    Enugu Rangers, Rivers United, Wikki Tourist and FC Ifeanyi Ubah who flew the flag in the continent in the just ended season all booked early exit in the championships.

    Akwa United who are winning the Federation cup for the second time after their first triumph in 2015 will be hoping to make a better impact next season at the CAF Confederation Cup. Three out of the last five Federation Cup finals have ended in penalties. They include the 2013 final which ended 5-4 in favour of Enyimba after 2-2 draw against Warri Wolves and extra time, the 2016 edition which ended 5-4 in favour of Ifeanyi Ubah after 0-0 draw with Nasarawa United.

     

     

     

  • Ezeji retires with indelible moments

    Ezeji retires with indelible moments

    It was a day he knew was inevitable. As he sat on the podium flanked by one of his friends and ex-footballer, Dominic Oruma, and chairman of the Lagos Sports Writers Association (Swan) in Lagos, Fred Edoreh. It was time to formally announce the end of a two-decade marriage with Nigeria’s top-flight.

    With a dignified and formal look in his face after the orator had reeled out his achievements while playing in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) for 20 years, Victor Ezeji took a deep breath after he was handed the microphone and his opening words were: “I am thankful to all the coaches, players and clubs I have played with. It’s been an amazing moment for me.”

    Ezeji’s opening comment typified that of a man who is satisfied and left with no big regrets having played for Eagle Cement (now Dolphins), Sharks, Enyimba, Sunshine Stars, Dolphins and Heartland. It also showed that he was ready to call time on a career that has seen him win the NPFL, FA Cup and Caf Champions League titles as well as several individual awards.

    Plucked from the street in the mid-1990s to join Sharks where he earned N5 000 ($227 at that time), Ezeji was quick to settle down at the Blue Angels despite the presence of big hitters like Mbwas Mangut, Maskavin Tali, Chidi Aluka, David Doe and Kennedy Boboye.

    Ezeji had the chance to make his debut in the 1996 season at Jasper United, where he played all 90 minutes and his impressive display helped the Blue Angels claim a 1-0 victory through Tali’s goal.

    “I still remember that day in Oba, near Onitsha, where I played my first game,” he told supersport.com. “Of course, for a youngster I was excited and at the same time on the edge, but once the game started I just played as if I was in the street playing with my mates.”

    After that first game, Ezeji never looked back as he went on to later play for Eagle Cement FC (now Dolphins), Enyimba, Sunshine Stars and Heartland. In between, he had a brief stint at Tunisian side Club Africain.

    Ezeji explained why he could not make a move to Europe. A chance to join Ajax Amsterdam from Ajax Cape Town ended due to injury. Then another chance to sign for Viborg FF was scuppered by Enyimba who blocked the move.

    “The Ajax chance was quite painful but I don’t dwell on it anymore. I had the chance to join Danish side Viborg FF. It didn’t happen because Enyimba at the time asked for $100 000 and Viborg were ready to pay an additional $50 000. Somehow they turned it down, telling me the governor (of Abia State) at the time did not want me to leave Enyimba,” Ezeji explained.

    Apart from that sour memory, Ezeji had loads of other memorable moments in his career. Some of them funny, others like a myth and a few of them dreadful.

    “I will say winning the Caf Champions League comes top among them, then there were really crazy moments like when one of the coaches told us to leave cubes of sugar in our boots to help us score goals. I didn’t partake in it because I don’t believe in using juju or charms. The FA Cup wins with Dolphins were also special and winning the league title too. I also remember when I scored four goals in a league game, only to watch from the bench (while with Sunshine Stars) when another player (Christian Pyagbara) scored four in a game, and within few days another (Emem Eduok) scored six in a game in same year (2014),” he said.

    Now that the klieg light on his playing career is off, Ezeji said he has begun to champion a course for players in the Nigerian league – focusing on insuring their lives.

    “There are no law that states that I cannot be a coach, scout or an analyst after my career. However, my target is to help insure players on the local scene. I’ve already started talking with players about this and how to help them have something to fall back on when injured or disabled as a result of playing,” he said.

    Ezeji explained that he has decided to go into player’s insurance considering the numerous stories of stars in the league who have been left with disability even at a premature age in their careers. The former Nigerian international said he is thankful that his career has ended without any kind of injury compared to players who were unfortunate.

    “When I look back, I realise I didn’t suffer career-threatening injuries like some players do, and at times are unlucky to end their careers in such circumstance. My limbs and ligaments are intact and I could have decided to continue playing but I know this can’t go on forever. So I thought about helping those still playing in the league to secure their lives in the event of such career or life-threatening injuries,” he said.

    Just as he is thankful for a professional career of 20 years without injuries, Ezeji is grateful to a long list of individuals who contributed on and off the pitch.

    “There are lots of people who influenced my career positively and helped me become the player I was. Barrister Chris Green is one of them as well as Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka. I can’t forget the advice of Emeka Enyadike either. The list is so long,” he said.

    Surely, Ezeji can be referred to as the NPFL poster boy of his era and, undoubtedly, he has left a big footprint in the sand. Like the meaning of his middle name, Okemka, he has indeed claimed a bigger share in the history of the Nigerian top-flight.a

  • Victor Ezeji:From Sharks FC’s sensation to finest veteran

    Victor Ezeji:From Sharks FC’s sensation to finest veteran

    Victor Ezeji is undoubtedly one of the most experienced players and one of the most recognisable faces in the Nigerian domestic league, having been playing in the elite division since 1996. He broke out as a teenager in 1996 with his native side, Sharks FC of Port Harcourt.

    For 19-years, Ezeji has stood amongst his peers and recorded many landmarks playing in the colours of other clubs including Eagle Cement of Port Harcourt, now Dolphins; as well as CAF Champions League seasoned campaigners, Enyimba.

    A Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree holder in Accounting from the University of Port Harcourt, Ezeji has shown that football is his first love with his sparkling performances over the years.

    “Initially, I didn’t consider football as a career and was actually playing for fun until I was spotted and signed by Sharks FC of Port Harcourt after a grassroots competition as a teenager, and that changed everything,” Ezeji said in an exclusive interview with Cafonline.com.

    Apart from being a part of the generation that won Nigeria’s first CAF Champions League trophy with Enyimba in 2003, he reckoned that the best moment of his career was in 2004, when he won a domestic double, League and FA Cup (Federation Cup) with Dolphins and was deservedly crowned the best player of the FA Cup after scoring a wonder goal and finishing the campaign with seven goals.

    Ezeji is at the twilight of his career and is presently attached to his boyhood side, Sharks FC, however, he remains proud of his achievements over the years as he charted his path from the grassroots to the top of Nigerian football. Below are excerpts of his interview with Cafonline.com;

     

    You have come a long way playing on the domestic scene. How did you arrive at Sharks which was your first professional club in 1996?

    It is a long story but I actually featured in a local competition in Port Harcourt which is called the Mock Nations Cup and I was actually doing my thing not knowing that Barrister Chris Green (a current board member of the Nigeria Football Federation), then secretary of Sharks was in attendance. After the game, he told me ‘I did very well’ and he wanted me to come for trials at Sharks. That was in December 1995 and in January I went to Sharks to begin a one-week trial. I was still in secondary school and was just 14 years at the time.

     

    This is interesting but how easy was it for you to play at that level at such a young age?

    I was nearing 15 and I was given an opportunity, and I took it with both hands. Definitely, if you see a good player irrespective of his age, you will know. We have seen players of the same age in the English Premier League and that was the same opportunity that was handed me.

    I was a ‘star boy’ because my profile was on the rise in Port Harcourt at that period. And everywhere in town, they would tell you to just ‘go and watch one hell of a guy’. I was really a home boy that everybody wanted to see. I think that was what prompted Barrister Green to come and watch me. I think their plan initially was to drag me to the Sharks’ feeder team but when they saw my pace and hunger, they changed their mind. In fact, Adokie Amesiemaka (a former Nigeria international), who was chairman of Sharks at the time, was very happy because I’m a left-footer. That was how my career took off and I played for two seasons. Thereafter, I crossed to the other side of the city to join Eagles Cement (now Dolphins FC) who had just won the league so that I could I have the experience of playing on the continent.

     

    What is your impression and experience since you have played for several clubs since 1996 on the Nigerian domestic league?

    I think it’s been fantastic, because when I started playing in the league, there was keen interest so much that as early as 1pm the stadium was filled with fans. It was real fun until the arrival of cable satellite came with the English Premier League and other European leagues. That was the beginning of the distraction and our stadiums gradually became empty. But overall, it has been a fantastic experience for me because, I have seen both the good and bad sides; and I’m still pushing.

     

    At some point you were the highest paid player in the Nigerian local league, how did a 14-year-old boy arrive at such a milestone?

    I think it was a reward for hard work. I’ve built myself over the years and there is no scandal attached to me. I managed to go to school and I’m a little enlightened than most of my contemporaries. My signing-on fee then was 9,000,000 (Nine million Naira) but the monthly salary was 2,000 USD (about N240, 000). Frankly, somebody somehow was going to be the highest paid player in Nigerian league and that was my time.

     

    At 33, you are one of the longest playing players in the league, where do you draw your strength from?

    I’m actually 34 now and I think my being here still playing is just the grace of God upon my life, because most of the people I started with are no longer playing. In fact, most that even started after me have all dropped off and so it’s just the grace of God that’s been keeping me because I’m not really a fantastic player (general laughter). If I’m fantastic, I should be playing somewhere in Europe. I have been lucky that I have never had any serious injury; I overcame minor ones and I’m still pushing on.

     

    Throughout your career, your only time abroad was with Tunisia’s Club Africain between 2007-2008. Since you played at Club Africain, how will you compare the standard of the Tunisian league to Nigeria?

    If it’s all about football itself or the playing personnel, we are ahead of them but in terms of admiration, they are further ahead. They are well-organized and things are done in a professional way. We are not yet playing professional football in Nigeria rather we are just trying to catch up with countries like Tunisia.

     

    What will you say has been the highlight of your career?

    I think I would go back to the FA Cup we won in 2006 with Dolphins against Bendel Insurance; the game actually ended 2-2 but we won on penalties. But I can’t forget the fantastic goal I scored when I took the ball from the centre and meandered my way through all the Insurance defenders before slotting the ball into the net. That goal gave me the MVP as well as the top scorer of that year’s FA Cup. I think that was the high point for me.

  • Victor Ezeji on trials with Kano Pillars

    Victor Ezeji on trials with Kano Pillars

    SportingLife can exclusively report that the veteran league striker, victor Ezeji is currently undergoing trials with league champions, Kano Pillars with the aim of joining them for the 2013/2014 Glo league season.

    Feelers from the Pyramid City side revealed that the Rivers State-born forward arrived in Kano last week and he has been participating in the team’s pre-season training session.

    Ezeji, it was gathered, returned from Europe where he had gone for trials, when his move failed.

    “Ezeji has been participating in all the training sessions with other players. He has shown professionalism in everything he is doing since he arrived in Kano. The club has the intention of signing him because his experience in the league over the years will be of advantage to Pillars,” a top Kano Pillars official told SportingLife.

    The prolific attacker has also played for Sharks, Eagle Cement (now Dolphins), Enyimba FC and Dolphins FC.

    He had a one year stint with Club Africain of Tunisia in 2007.

    The legendry forward has won many honours for himself since he made his debut in the Nigeria league against defunct Jasper United in 2006.

    He won two league titles with Enyimba FC and Dolphins FC in 2003 and 2004 respectively.

    He was part of the heroic players that won CAF Champions League with Enyimba FC, the first time a Nigerian club won the trophy, in 2003 and Runner-up CAF Confederation Cup in 2005 with Dolphins FC.

    The 34-year old winger won FA in 2004, 2006 and 2007 with Dolphins FC.