Nigerian Football
CHRISTIAN MADU, EX RANGERS FOR BURIAL FRIDAY
The remains of former Rangers and Super Eagles midfielder, Christian Madu, will be buried this Friday, at his home town Ndiama Oka –Ugiri in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
Madu who was popularly known as Gabu in his hay days died on August 19, after a protracted illness.
Madu, according to an interview he granted The Guardian 13 years ago narrated the story of his early football days in Ghana, why he changed his surname from Madumere to Madu and how he joined Rangers from Ghana.
He revealed that he had to change his surname, Madumere to Madu in order to remain in Ghana and continue his career, since the atmosphere then was not conducive for Nigerians living in Ghana.
“When I was in Ghana, the then government decided that Nigerians were the main reason their economy had problems and told all Nigerians to leave their country.
“I was playing for Accra Hearts of Oak then. So I had to change my surname from Madumere to Madu. That made it sound Cameroonian. And not only that, an official of the club helped me to spread it around that I was Cameroonian. So, I managed to secure a resident permit as a Cameroonian, and continued playing for Hearts of Oaks.
“This thing happened around 1969. I played for Oaks for 12 years before I joined Great Olympics. I played for Great Olympics for five years before I joined Rangers,” Madu said.
He was a member of the Great Olympics team beaten by Enugu Rangers in the 1975 edition of the African Cup of Champions Clubs. The next season, he switched from the Ghanaian club to Enugu Rangers and had his first Nigerian cap starting the Nigeria’s 6-2 defeat of Sierra Leone ahead of the regular midfielder, Muda Lawal.
His contributions in Rangers were quite magical as the Antelopes sensationally won the 1977 Africa Cup Winners Cup now CAF Confederation Cup. Skills and amazing ball control did not go unnoticed as Super Eagles coach, Father Tiko invited him to the Green Eagles team and he along others were bedecked with a bronze medal in the 1978 African Nations Cup in Ghana. He was one of the few players who played for both Nigeria and Ghana before FIFA ruled that a player could not play for different countries any longer.
In their tributes, Madu’s erstwhile team mates described the late soccer star as a team player whose aim was victory all the time. The former Rangers players did not mince words in ascribing Madu’s death to negligence.
Harrison Okagbue, who joined Rangers at its formation in 1970 and who later handled the Cranes of Uganda noted that the death of Madu and other ex international players who have died “would have come later if they were taken better care of in the light of how they used their youthfulness to make people happy”.
Arthur Ebunam, the Chairman of Ex-Rangers Association in Anambra, lamented that Madu and indeed other Nigeria’s national team players died because “they never not got what they deserved in the Nigerian society”.
It must be noted that former Iwuanyanwu Nationale player Ramson Madu who incidentally is the Owerri side’s coach is the younger brother of Christian Madu.
A total of 30 women coaches have concluded the first of a three-module CAF C-License program in the Federal Capital, Abuja and are expected to commence a two-week internship with different teams in a few days.
Peopled largely by former Nigerian internationals and other serving coaches, the group was taken through a full week of rigorous classroom and practical sessions by a team of coach educators and resource persons, in a baptism of what the next two modules are likely to entail,
NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, told thenff.com that the first module has shown that the women coaches are actually desirous of learning.
“I am very much impressed with their attitude, mannerisms and conduct through the first module. They impressed everyone, and the coach educators also told me they were impressed, and are looking forward to having them back for the second and concluding modules.
“We are grateful for the leadership of the NFF for the support and encouragement for coach-education programmes all the time.”
The participants will return to Abuja for the second module that is scheduled for 12th – 20th August, after which they will go on another two-week internship, 23rd August – 4th September. The third module, which comes with examinations for the participants, will take place 9th – 19th September.
Dr. Terry Babatunde Eguaoje, NFF’s Head of Education, is among the coach educators’ team, which also includes Coaches Isah Ladan Bosso, Wemimo Olanrewaju and Lanrence Ndaks.
Among the 30 participants are former Super Falcons’ stars Precious Dede, Joy Jegede, Esther Michael, Maureen Eke, Otas Ogbonmwan, Vera Okolo, Cecilia Nku, Taiwo Ajobiewe, Gloria Ofoegbu and Amenze Aighewi. There are also Barr. Victoria Nlemigbo and retired FIFA referee Folusho Ajayi.
Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President and a FIFA Council member, Amaju Pinnick has expressed shock at last month’s outburst by Super Eagles’ striker, Victor Osimhen against Finidi George.
“It is very unfortunate”, Amaju Pinnick remarked on an Arise Television programme. The former NFF president said he had put a call to Osimhen who was very remorseful while the telephone conversation lasted.
“I told him he has to apologise, and I am sure he will if he has not yet done so.” Amaju remarked that he could not comprehend what went wrong as Osimhen was the most cool-headed player in the national team.
He went on to remark that Finidi George was not a personality to be disregarded like that. He has won virtually every honour available during his playing days and was a member of the Super Eagles at their peak when Nigeria ranked fifth in the world.
“I believe players should learn to respect their coaches”, said the former NFF boss.
Nigeria’s FIFA Council member, Amaju Pinnick has told the world that he has always been an advocate of foreign coaches for the Super Eagles. He spoke on Arise Television while fielding questions with Reuben Abati, Rufai Oseni and Ayo Mairo-Ese.
His reason for being averse to indigenous coaches stemmed from lack of respect for them by the players.
“Yes, the Nigerian coaches have the requisite knowledge and the technical ability, but modern football is beyond that in managing players.
“Will the national team players respect the coach? The sad thing is that they don’t”, said Amaju Pinnick.
He however revealed that he supported the appointment of Finidi George owing to the circumstances that the NFF found itself after the exit of Jose Peseiro.
The NFF, he revealed, had no money to hire a foreign coach. The body therefore went for the most available option, Finidi to ensure a smooth transition.
“Finidi was part of the coaching crew of Peseiro and it was therefore logical to ask him to continue.
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