STEPHEN KESHI: A LEGEND WORTH CELEBRATING – THE BIG BOSS LIVES ON!
Stephen Keshi won the WAFU Cup as Captain of New Nigeria Bank (NNB) FC. He won the Nations Cup as Captain and later as Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria – a feat no other Nigerian has achieved.
This football legend was a household name in the 80s in Benin City when he captained the great New Nigeria Bank FC. Those were the golden days of Nigerian football when fans struggled to get into Ogbe Stadium to watch epic battles involving teams like Leventis United, Abiola Babes, Iwuanyanwu Nationale, Enugu Rangers, Flash Flamingoes and the ever-popular Bendel Insurance FC whenever they locked horns with NNB.
I can still remember vividly that whenever I was unable to make it to Ogbe Stadium, I would stay glued to my radio set to listen to the live commentary of the match. Even the hype of the commentator alone could break your heart sometimes.
This same football legend actually opened the door for professional football abroad for Nigerians. He was very instrumental in the exodus of Nigerian footballers to greener pastures abroad. He paved the way for the generation that took Nigeria football global.
This football hero is worth celebrating as the football community and the world gather for the Final and Fundraising of the 9th Stephen Keshi Football Tournament (SKVT) for the growth and development of the Stephen Keshi Sports Village at Obazuwa in Edo State. I strongly believe this noble project will put Obazuwa on the world map in honour of this global football phenomenon.
The economic importance to Edo people is going to be overwhelming, because I see nations coming together for this SKVT Tournament that will invariably open doors for young potential sports talents, lovers, marketers, business men and women.
In addition to that, it is crystal clear that the lifespan of an active sportsman on the track and field is very short. The Sports Village which will be equipped with other vocational training centres will go a long way to ameliorate the suffering of sports men and women after active service. It will give them a second chance.
Let us come en-masse to support and partner with this worthy project that will open up Benin City to regular national and international sporting events, boost the economy of Benin City and Edo State at large, give hope to the hopeless and sustain the legacy of one of Nigeria’s football saints.
Let individuals, sports lovers, captains and kings of industries, corporate organizations and government institutions like the State and National Sports Commission, the National Institute of Sports and top government functionaries be part of this vision.
You will only be remembered either for the problem you created or the problem you solved. Life is all about impact and not noise. Thank you for your unflinching support and partnership.
BLANKSON T. RICHARD
PRESIDENT
GONEC FC
