by Emeka Obasi
There is no disputing the fact that Godwin Dudu – Orumen knows almost everything about Nigerian football from 1970 to 1982. If you challenge him to a test, be prepared to go back home on the losing side, for beating him needs more than the ordinary.
I engaged him recently and got even more than was expected. Dudu – Orumen reminded me that the decision to increase Africa’s slot at the World Cup was taken in Lagos after then FIFA president, Joao Havelange watched Bendel Insurance play a thrilling 2-2 draw with Raccah Rovers.
He said : ” Dr. Havelange was there at the National Stadium, Surulere when Bendel Insurance faced Raccah Rovers in the 1978 Super League. After the pulsating 2-2 draw of end to end football, the FIFA president declared that Africa was ripe for two World Cup slots and promptly gave Africa two slots.”
That was how Algeria and Cameroon ended as Africa’s representatives at the 1982 World Cup in Spain. Tunisia were the continent’s sole representatives at the Argentina 1978 Mundial and posted good results. They defeated Mexico 3-1, drew goalless with defending champions, West Germany and lost narrowly to Poland 1-0.
Havelange used his influence to increase the number of teams that qualified for the World Cup, from 16 in 1978 to 24 in 1982. ” The more teams you have, the more styles you see. That makes the game more popular and attractive”, the Brazilian billionaire who mounted the stage in 1974, argued.
Africa did not disappoint in 1982. Algeria defeated European Champions, Germany 2-1, beat Chile 3-2 and would have qualified for the next round if the Germans and their Austrian cousins did not play out a most crooked arrangement.
Cameroon played three matches against Peru, Italy and Poland and remained unbeaten. Roger Milla’s goal against Peru was disallowed. Thomas Nkono saved a penalty against Poland.
It is remarkable that Italy and Germany who could not beat either of the African representatives went ahead to play in the grand finale. And none of them earned more points than the debutants in the group stage, they advanced on technical grounds.
Insurance and Raccah deserve credit for their impressive outing that bought Havelange over. That was the year of David Adiele, Kadiri Ikhana, Chris Ogu, George Omokaro, Francis Moniedafe, Agwo Nnaji, Felix Agbonifo, Henry Ogboe, Emma Obasuyi and Peter Egharevba.
Raccah had Baba Otu Mohammed, Annas Mohammed, Abubakar Wasa Mohammed, Hussaini Alabi, Ado Ebenezer, Shefiu Mohammed, Godwin Bankole and Haruna Abdulwahab.
Insurance won the Challenge Cup in 1978, Raccah were league winners. Representing Nigeria the following year, the Benin team got to the semi finals of the African Winners Cup.
Raccah were knocked out in the quarter finals of the CAF Champions League ( then known as Cup for Champion Clubs). They had a good run in the second round punishing Simba of Tanzania 2-0 in Dar Es Salaam after a barren draw in Nigeria. One unfortunate incident was the death of Simba player, Hussain Lindawa, in the field of play.
I tasked Orumen to name his best Eagles Four.
” Thompson Usiyen, Best Striker. Christian Chukwu, Best Defender. Muda Lawal, Best Midfielder. Peter Fregene, Best Goalkeeper.”
He owns Sportshaq and Suites in Lagos and gave me the story. ” I visited a Sports Bar in the US in 1994 and another one in the UK called Football Football at Haymarket Road, Leicester so I decided to bring home to Nigerians that collective audience viewing of live football. Indeed, sports can be fun especially when the experience comes with good food and drinks served at the right temperature.”
Do not think Dudu – Orumen is all about sports. He is a University of Benin trained lawyer. I asked him if he ever went to court because I do not want to go to court for our dilly dallying Super Eagles.
” Yes, I remember Court Rooms because I was in Law Practice for five years after my Call to Bar, though in between, I had a stint as Special Adviser to the Chairman ( Chief Sebastine Williams) of the defunct National Sports Commission in 1990.
“And I still relate closely with friends and classmates who are in practice. Interactions on my Uniben Law Faculty Set, 1987, platform and the Nigerian Law School, Set 1988, keep me abreast with my first constituency,” he said.
Through him, I got more names of the Juniors and Intermediates that won First National Sports Festival soccer gold with Mid – West in 1973. East Central State Spartans led by Dominic Nwobodo, bagged the Senior soccer gold.
Dudu – Orumen added Humphrey Edobor and Lucky Imafidon to the Juniors that included Bright Omokaro, goalie Uyimwen Okungbowa and Sam Okpodu. He mentioned Frank Onwuachi, Francis Ossai, Elvis Idahor and Chester Enehizena, to boost my Intermediates list that included Thompson Usiyen, keeper Fitting Amenawon and Solomon Etoroma.
Amemawon moved on to the Senior team and won silver at the Oluyole 1979 Fourth National Sports Festival. Bendel State lost 3-0 to Imo Trojans, captained by Kelechi Emeteole. Until recently, Dudu – Orumen, was Executive Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission.
