Family, Friends, Fans Remember Coach Amodu Shaibu, Vow to Immortalize the Football Legend
“discovering and Promoting local talents is our plan of action” _Sadoh Yekini
By: Jeremiah Enaholo Kadiri
+234 806 905 5018Coach Amodu Shaibu Memorial Day was held in Auchi Sacred Kingdom on Thursday in honor of the late sports developer who hailed from Okpella.
The event which was held atIkelebe Sports Arena is said to be the beginning of a series of events that have been mapped out to commemorate the immortalization of the late football legend who made Nigeria proud in his living days as a player and later as coach of the National team. Austin Braimah the organizer of the event made it clear that June 11th is meant to be placed in the hearts of not only Nigerians but in the hearts of all who have an affiliation with football.
“just like June 12 which is tomorrow is being celebrated as the Nigerian Democracy Day, June 11 is going international. In fact, what we’ve just done today is a rehearsal… Amodu has friends across states, countries, across every strata, men and women who wished to be here but for the covid-19 pandemic, they couldn’t make it. However, by June 11 2021 I promise you that this event is going to go global as Coach Amodu himself was an international man” he said.
A Novelty Match was also held as part of activities to mark the Memorial Day between Afenmai and Rising Stars FC. The match ended in a 2 1 win in favour of Afenmai.
Speaking on the development, Sir Sadoh Yekini the organizing secretary stated that the event is just a preamble of what to expect next year.
“the seed we have sown today will definitely germinate and we look forward to having a national and international competition in memory of late Coach Amodu Shaibu. He is a great man, he is a man of the people, he is a man that cut across Edo state, Nigeria and internationally. You can see that despite the pandemic, not less than six seasoned coaches of international and national repute were able to make it here. It shows that by this time next year we are going to have a sports tourism in Auchi. We pray that God keeps us alive to be able to put things together.”
Speaking further, Sadoh posited that the sporting event when fully operational will in no small measure help to promote local football talents which abound the length and breadth of Edo North because at that point, talent scouts, coaches, ex stars, football administrators and all will converge in Auchi Sacred Kingdom to not only watch the game of football as played by our Afenmai boys but more so, take the action of picking some to stardom.
“a lot of persons, coaches _national and international, players both playing and retired are products of Amodu Shaibu. During this conception a lot of them kept calling to ask, what do we do? What do we do? We had to let them know that we are using today to sow the seed of June 11 which is Amodu Shaibu Memorial Day. So, we look towards next year for a National or international tournament based on the committee’s recommendation and funding.
It is indirectly going to benefit the people of Auchi, Etsako, Edo North and Edo state because seasoned coaches will definitely come and am sure they’ll see qualities in one or two players who they can easily take.
It is part of the dream and concept we are looking at in the Coach Amodu Shaibu Foundation. As we are playing the tournament there will be a technical committee who will be able to look at players with potentials. The technical committee will now liaise with international marketers to see the possibility of exporting such players.
At some point we might be able to take our boys on trials to three or four states or even to European nations and before they go and come back, half of that team must have been connected.
My message to Auchi sons is let us calm down, let us be discipline, let us play football with passion.”Sadoh concluded.
Coach Amodu Shaibu who hailed from Okpella spent his living days helping people discover their talents into stardom. With this recent development, the late chief will be beaming with smiles in his grave on the realization that his family, friends, colleagues, students and fans have woken up to the challenge of discovering and promoting local football talents in Edo state
The event was attended by Lukeman Jimoh (member Okpekpe Race organizing committee), Ahmed Aigbona President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria who acted in the capacity of the commentator of the day, Barrister AkuriAfengbua, Austin Egwavon, Austin Braimah, Godwin Izinor, Sadoh Yekini, Bernard Egwakhide and a host of other dignitaries too numerous to mention.
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