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60th Inter-house Sports: Okoku, Odiye donate sports equipment to St Finbarr’s College, Give scholarship in monetary form

Former Super Eagles star, Godwin Odiye and Paul Okoku have donated sport equipment to Saint Finbarr’s College, Akoka, Lagos State, on the occasion of their 60th inter-house sports on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the school premises in Yaba.

The distinguished Nigerian ex internationals, who passed out from Saint Finbarrs College, also handed out an undisclosed sum of money in scholarship to the school through the Old Boys Association of the acclaimed secondary school.

At the colourful St Finbarr’s College 60th Inter-house sports competition, where the sports equipment donated by Okoku and Odiye were presented to a packed cheering crowd in the school ‘s sports complex, the school authority, parents, students, well wishers and disguised former students of the illustrious secondary, spoke glowingly of the humanitarian efforts of the US-based former students .

Okoku, a distinguished member of the Saint Finbarr’s College Old Boys Association and the vice captain of the 1983 Flying Eagles which became the first Nigerian team to participate in a FIFA-organised competition, alongside a legendary former defender,Odiye, donated the equipment to their alma mater, as a way of giving back to the college to promote sport among the students.

The sport equipment include adidas jerseys, football boots, branded track suits, hoses and shin guards for the school football team.

The equipment and jerseys were presented by Friday Okoku to the school administrator, Rev Father Babalola Emmanuel, who was elated with the humanitarian gesture of Odiye and Okoku.

“We are grateful for this great gesture of you two and pray that you will see God’s goodness”.

Okoku and Odiye drew commendation from the President of the Saint Finbarr’s College Old Boys Association and veteran Nigerian actor, Patrick Doyle, for the gesture, during the presentation of the equipment at the sporting event, to the cheers of parents, teachers, school officials and students.

“Paul Okoku was the vice captain of the Junior Eagles called the Flying Eagles. That tem was the first team in Nigeria to play a FIFA-orgamised competiton. He went on to play for the Super Eagles before he went to America to study and he is still resident there till this day,” Doyle told the delighted crowd.

“The other is the legendary Godwin Odiye. Godwin Odiye is one of the greatest defenders on the continent and an old boy of this school. So on their behalf, he has sent his brother here to do the presentation. We have a good number of football boots, track suits for the the school, branded track suits for the football team, all the way from the United States.

“Adidas jerseys for the football team, who have shin guards, hoses and hand gloves for the goalkeeper. Ladies and gentlemen, I urge you once again, to applaud our proud old boys, Paul Okoku and Godwin Odiye. These jerseys are going to be worn in the final of the Heritage Cup and we are going to left the cup wearing these jerseys donated by these gentle men who were in this school many years ago.”

The thespian also appreciated the sense of giving back to the college displayed by Okoku and Odiye.

“These gesture that they have done shows that of a truth and in deed, they are appreciative of what this school did to them and for them. I am particularly proud of Paul and Godwin Odiye because these are sporting legends and they have found it first to give back to St. Finbarr’s. I just boasted that we would be wearing the jersey they donated at the next final of the football competition in Lagos State,” Doyle stated.

Also lauding the donation, Head Teacher of the school, Biyibi Victor, said the sport equipment will go a long way to motivated the school team.

“About a month ago, they (Okoku and Odiye) called me and told me that they would love to do that presentation. I said it would be took hidden if they come on an ordinary day. So I said they should come on the day of the inter-house sport; let the whole world know what they are donating to us, so that the publicity will shine on them, to show what they are giving back to their alma mater, which is a good thing to emulate,” he said.

The head teacher also said the donation will boost sport in the school and further enhance its rich sports history.

“It (donation) will go a long way to motivated the boys, being that these are old boys giving back to the school. And you know sport kits are very expensive now, so for them to do this is a very laudable experience for the boys and three boys will benefit from it because as a school, we don’t push sport aside, we put sport and academics side-by-side, just because the founder, Reverend Father Slattery was also a sport man and he loved combining academics and sports,” Victor stated.

Related Topics:Akoka lagos state Saint Finbarr's College

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Newstap/SWAN Five Star Sports Award Excites Ebi Egbe

Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Sports Facilities Construction Ltd, Ebi Egbe says he’s highly honoured to be nominated as one of the receipients of the forthcoming maiden Newstap SWAN Five Star Sports Award

He stated this when he received his letter of nomination from the Editor of Newstap Communications and South West Secretary General of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria.

According to him, the recognition is an indication that Nigerians value what his company is doing noting that they’ll never compromise standards but will be moving with technological innovations.

“It’s always nice to be recognized. At Monimichelle Limited, we’ve been doing our best to make sure we bring in the best for sporting infrastructure not just in Nigeria, but the entire African continent. So I’m excited to be receiving this award from Newstap Communications and SWAN

” I also want to say that what this award shows is that the world is following our good track record. And this have really propelled us to continue doing what we’re doing. So I want to appreciate the organisers of this award for finding me worthy to be honoured.
He also assured Nigerians that his company will continue to provide the best services which is in tune with the latest technology.

“At Monimichelle, we don’t like to sit at the back seat. Even though we are an African company servicing African market, we’re following technology as it’s revolving in the world because technology changes everyday in the sports industry and we always make sure we give our clients the best of services and will continue to do so”, he concluded.

CEO of Monimichelle Group Ebi Egbe (middle) flanked by Editor of Newstap, Ifeanyi Eduzor (right) and Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN official Charles Ogundiya when Egbe received his letter as one of the recipients of the Newstap/ SWAN Five-Star award billed for March 7 in Lagos.

Other reciepients of the Five Star Sports Award includes, the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, GTI Assets Management and Trust Limited, a company that has turned around the nation’s premier league, the NPFL, President of Remo Stars, Kunle Soname and Chairman of Benue State Football Association who is also the only founder of two women clubs in Nigeria – Naija Ratels and Benue Queens, Barrister Paul Edeh.

The event comes up on Friday, March 7, 2025 at the Bamboo Hall of the prestigious Eko Club, off Bode Thomas Street Surulere, Lagos.

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Karim Benzema Hints Return To Real Madrid

Real Madrid legend Karim Benzema has hinted at a desire to return to the club once he has brought down the curtain on an illustrious playing career.

Benzema is second on Madrid’s list of all-time goal-scorers, ahead of icons Raul and Alfredo Di Stefano, having netted 354 times across 14 years. He is also fifth on the club’s all-time appearance list, playing 648 games between 2009 and 2023.

Madrid have welcomed former players back in a variety of off-field roles in the past, with 1980s stars Jorge Valdano and Emilio Butragueno among those to have had prominent executive positions. Raul has been in charge of Real Madrid Castilla since 2019, with Alvaro Arbeloa currently a youth coach. Santiago Solari had spells in charge of various sides up to first-team level, with Zinedine Zidane famously serving as an adviser before two spells as head coach.

Benzema admitted in a Mega interview that he doesn’t know if coaching is the path he wants to take, only that he wants to be “close” to president Florentino Perez.

“The other day, I was with Florentino in Madrid. When he signed me [in 2009], I told my father that as long as he was at Real Madrid, I would be there,” the Frenchman explained.

“He was the first person I called when I decided I was leaving. He didn’t quite understand…I told him that the youngsters, Vinicius and Rodrygo, were ready. When I retire, I want to be close to football. Coach? I don’t know, it seems more complicated than being a player. I want to be close to Florentino.”

Benzema, now 37, is currently in his second season with Saudi Pro League giants Al Ittihad.

“I feel good here,” he said. “My life is like in Madrid. I get up, train at home in the gym and in the afternoon I train with the team. In the evening, I sometimes go out to dinner or to the beach. Here you can’t walk down the street either, people are crazy about football.”

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Fulham Condemn Manchester United Fans Racist Abuse on Calvin Bassey

Fulham have condemned the “abhorrent” racist and homophobic online abuse directed at Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey following Sunday’s FA Cup penalty shootout win at Manchester United.

Nigeria defender Bassey, who scored the opening goal at Old Trafford, shared some examples of the unsavoury abuse he had received on social media.

“We strongly condemn this abhorrent behaviour, which has no place in football or society,” Fulham said in a statement.

“Such actions are entirely unacceptable, and we stand in full support of Calvin Bassey, who will continue to receive our full backing.

“We will do everything in our power to work with the relevant authorities in identifying the perpetrators of these vile messages and taking the strongest form of action against them.”

Bassey’s online abuse follows recent cases involving Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure, England defender Kyle Walker, Newcastle United’s Joe Willock and Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw.

In a recent interview with BBC Sport, Samuel Okafor, chief executive of anti-discrimination body Kick It Out (KIO), said the level of abuse in English football had “reached crisis point”.

Bassey’s goal was cancelled out in the second half by Bruno Fernandes, with the game staying level at 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes and extra time.

Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee missed for United in the shootout to send the Cottagers into the quarter-finals, where they will host Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage.

BBC