NFF, CAF, FIFA Shun immortalization of Etubom Oyo Orok Mr Football

It was a present of disgrace in Calabar on the weekend as world soccer organising physique, FIFA, Confederation of African Soccer (CAF) and prime authorities officers shunned the immortalisation of the nation’s first FIFA govt committee member and CAF govt committee, Etubom Oyo Orok Oyo.

Not even prime officers of soccer and sports activities of Nigerian authorities have been current. The Minister of Sports activities Mr. Sunday Dare, the State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade and others have been additionally absent.

Nonetheless, Nigeria Soccer Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, was represented by the duo of the Deputy Secretary Basic of the NFF, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme and the Chairman of Delta State Soccer Affiliation, Chief Kenneth Nwocha.

Etubom Oyo, popularly often known as ‘Mr. Soccer,’ who was additionally the primary secretary of the Nigerian Soccer Affiliation (NFA) and Secretary Basic of the Nigerian soccer physique, died 14 years in the past.

Fourteen years after the neglect by the related our bodies and authorities to immortalise the late ‘Mr. Soccer,’ his household, led by his first son, Etubom Orok Oyo Orok (Jnr.), launched the primary Mr. Soccer Basis in Calabar, Cross River State. On the Basis launch, a guide, chronicling the life and occasions of Oyo managing soccer in Nigeria, CAF and FIFA was introduced in a vibrant ceremony on the Duke City Presbyterian Church, Calabar. It was rounded off with the launch at U.J. Esuene Stadium.

The primary son of the soccer icon, Etubom Orok, took swipe on the political class, saying lack of political will didn’t permit his father to be immortalised regardless of assurances by these in authority.

He lamented: “The best misfortune that has befallen my father is to come back from this a part of the world.”

Etubom Oyo died September 10, 2008, precisely 14 days after his 86th birthday and would have been 100 years outdated by Saturday, August 27, 2022 if he have been alive.

The chairman of the event, Senator Andrew Uchendu, who’s the Professional-Chancellor and chairman of the Governing Council, College of Port Harcourt, in his welcome tackle, stated the occasion is coming within the 12 months of his posthumous centenary birthday.