By Jude Opara, Abuja
All is now set for the maiden edition of the First Bank/ Sam Okwaraji U-16 football tournament which kicks off across the country on May 16.
Speaking at the official of the unveiling of the tournament which was created in memory of the late Super Eagles midfielder, Samuel Okwaraji who slumped and died on August 12, 1989 during a world cup qualification match against Angola, Convener of the championship, Sen. Osita Izunaso said the late Okwaraji died in active service while defending the image and integrity of the country.
Izunaso who is also the senator representing Imo West in the National Assembly said the idea behind the tournament is not merely to start a championship but to ignite a memory of the late Okwaraji that will never die.
According to him, Okwaraji symbolized a rare character in service; even as he questioned if anything would go wrong if we as a nation start a programme whereby education must go hand in hand with sports?
He explained that the championship which kicks off on 16th of May would celebrate the values, and that the tournament iwas to celebrate values including discipline on and off the pitch; adding that Individual awards for best goalkeeper, best player of the tournament and highest goal scorer.
The lawmaker urged other corporate organizations to borrow a leaf from First Bank by sponsoring one event or the other, as a way of impacting on the community where they operate.
He cautioned against age falsification and biased officiating, insisting that referees has been been advised to be fair to all teams because a compromised tournament is a failed tournament.
In his remarks, Director General (DG) of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade said the memory of the way Okwaraji dropped and died on the pitch will never leave anybody who was in the stadium that very day.
Olopade praised the DG of the Nigerian Institute for Sports (NIS), Hon. Philip Shaibu for the innovations he has brought to the institute since his appointment, saying they are in agreement with the agenda of President Bola Tinubu to develop sports down to the grassroots.
“President Bola Tinubu has charged all those involved in sports administration in the country to focus on the grassroots development and what NIS, Sen. Izunaso and the First Bank are doing in the sponsorship of this tournament are quite in agreement”.
The main sponsors of the championship, First Bank Nigeria represented by Olayinka Ijabiyi in a brief remarks noted that the bank has been supporting sports for a very long time.
“We don’t just sponsor for a year, but for decades. The bank will be 132 year old on Tuesday so this is coming at the right time. First Bank sees sports as a way of opening up pathways for growth, inclusion and long time prosperity”, he added.
For the Director General of the Nigerian Institute for Sports(NIS), Philip Shaibu, Okwaraji was a legend and role model who deserves to be celebrated, even in death.
“We are celebrating a legend and this shows it’s good for the younger ones to live a life of fulfillment. He was a role model and the little effort you put in place will help make Nigeria great. We must not continue to blame the leaders without thinking of what we can do for our country.
“Okwaraji was not just a footballer but also a scholar. There are many former internationals who are just security guards and alcoholics. This is because they don’t have education”.
Dr. Olabisi Joseph President Nigerian School Sports also stressed the need for sports men and women to also combine with sound education, saying that if Okwaraji who died at 26 already had his Master’s degree in International Law, it means he had good plans for himself.
