Initially, there was no intention of writing a sequel to my initial piece about the remarkable Clement Okwufulueze. However, once his tale went online and responses started flooding in like the mighty flow of the River Niger, the necessity for an additional narrative became clear.
Initially, feedback indicated that despite my effusive praise for him, most people felt the accolades, honors, compliments, and recognition fell short of what he truly deserved due to his remarkable performances in sports. Many believed I hadn’t actually seen him showcase his prowess during matches; instead, they thought I might only be familiar with hearsay. These critics argued that witnessing one of his breathtaking moments—like when he left rivals astounded with his skillful maneuvers on the soccer pitch—would lead me to focus intently on such an event. They suggested that regardless of which game I chose to describe, it would undoubtedly revolve around some spectacular display from Okwufulueze. His extraordinary talent allowed him to bewitch both players and spectators alike. A participant mentioned that observing Okwufulueze back then meant seeing someone who completely dominated every aspect of playing soccer.
Indeed, those who believed that I never saw Okwufulueze in action were correct. My knowledge of him was limited to hearsay, and I merely recited "Piccolo teach them soccer, yes, teach them soccer oh" after he had graduated from secondary school. However, as my research and writings delved deeper into high school athletics, his name frequently surfaced.
Indeed, once more, if certain individuals stood out as exceptional, then Clement Okwufulueze, known by his nickname Piccolo, truly shone twice as bright. As a phenomenal talent in Nigerian school sports during the latter half of the 1960s and the beginning of the 1970s, he became an extraordinary figure in this domain.
Secondly, there is an additional rationale behind the necessity of this sequel within the Okwufuleze narrative. Although it’s improbable that my error regarding the school where Okwufulueze obtained his Higher School Certificate would spark conflict between Government College, Ughelli, and Hussey College, Warri, I still feel obligated to rectify this mistake due to the nature of journalism as swiftly evolving history. Misinforming the public constitutes a significant lapse, which indeed occurred with my earlier publication. Initially, I incorrectly stated that Okwufulueze studied at Government College, Ughelli, for his HSC; however, he truly enrolled at Hussey College, Warri, following completion of his School Certificate examinations at Anglican Grammar School, Ubulu Uku. Once notified about this oversight, I realized promptly that correcting it was essential.
If facts are sacred, then the fact that Okwufulueze schooled in Warri and not Ughelli should be a big deal. This is especially so because historically, Hussey College, Warri, was a stupendous sports power house. Yet, there is more to it because the team OKwufulueze captained in 1971 at Ughelli could have beaten any secondary school in the world. They were Mid-West champions as a matter of course. That team could even have challenged the national team, yes the Green Eagles and would not have fared as badly as St. Patrick’s College, Asaba, that fell 0-7 when they played against the national team. The unforgettable Josiah Dombraye had left Immaculate Conception College (ICC) Benin in 1969 and enrolled in Hussey College, Ughelli in 1970 – just as Okwufulueze did. The following year, the formidable Hussey College, Warri, team had such other school boy greats – Morton Owolo, Didiare, Clement Adinkwe, Opone, Gigi Donbraye. The great Thompson Usiyan, Zion Ogunfehimi (goalkeeper) Franklin Howard, Clement Temile, Mike Obiku, and John Umugheli, also attended Hussey College. Tried as I did, I couldn’t confirm if Ben Popoola attended the same Hussey College. If he did, then the school’s 1971 team would have been as unstoppable by any Nigerian secondary school just as though what was in action was a locomotive engine.
Why? Oh the reason is simple. Ben Popoola was in form four when he helped St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, Akure, to win the 1969 Francis Omitola football competition for schools in the entire Western State– today’s South-West minus Lagos state. Then he came over to either Warri or Ughelli for his HSC, which he would have finished in 1971. Ben Popoola was no ordinary footballer either.
Mr. Emmanuel Okwuokei from Ubulu-Uku, Delta State, recalled playing alongside Ben Popoola at the Akure team in 1969. During this period, they both competed for Western Region in sports including soccer, javelin throw, and pole vaulting. Mr. Okwuokei praised Popoola’s talent saying, "We could see early on that Ben was destined for greatness, which turned out true." Notably, Popoola played not just for Bendel Insurance Football Club during their peak years based in Benin City, but also became part of Nigeria's national football squad back when it was called the Green Eagles. At around sixteen, Popoola joined our school team in Akure where he quickly stood out due to his exceptional ball control skills, frequently maneuvering past even the toughest defenses to either secure crucial goals himself or set up teammates. His tactical acumen was outstanding—he possessed an almost non-confrontational playstyle that helped him evade physical challenges posed by opponents without getting fouled. According to a Reuters account covering a game between the Green Eagles and Côte d'Ivoire held on July 14, 1974, substitute player Ben Popoola scored first with a swift strike towards one corner of the goalpost in the seventieth minute. This initial breakthrough lifted the spirits of the Nigerian side significantly leading them to seal victory further after Sunday Izevbigbie added another point eight minutes before full time ended. These two players were affiliated with Bendel Insurance FC located in Benin City. Eventually, Popoola moved to America where he pursued professional careers in coaching college-level soccer teams along with continuing his athletic journey over there.
When celebrating the glory of past school sports, one cannot overlook an intriguing fact: Sunday Izevbigie almost joined forces with Okufulueze at Edo College in Benin City. Although he spent some time at Edo College, the sporting environment did not appeal to him. Consequently, he moved from Benin City to Warri. Upon inquiry about this change, Okwufulueze mentioned that Hussey offered better sports amenities compared to Edo College. If he had stayed longer at Edo College, his teammate could have been Damian Ogunsuyi, who was famously known as the right winger for Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin. This anecdote serves to highlight how significant school sports were during those splendid times long gone.
To conclude this second piece about Clement Okwufulueze, also known as Piccolo—the revered figure in Nigerian school sports during the late 1960s and early 1970s—I must include a response to my initial article from Mr. Christian Odiaka, an alumnus of pride at Anglican Grammar School, Ubulu-Uku. This is where Okwufulueze shone brightly and became prominent within Nigeria’s school sporting circles.
He stated: "Tony, the article about Clement Okwufulueze, also known as Piccolo, the King of School Sports, was remarkably thorough."
However, can anyone truly articulate the exceptional gifts/talent embodied in that young boy named Clement Okwufulueze back then? I had the privilege of attending the aforementioned event in 1969 at Issele-Uku, where members of the Ubugram community won nearly every medal up for grabs. Piccolo participated in various events such as the 100-meter dash, hurdles, javelin throw, shot put, among others, and triumphed in each one.
However, there is a minor adjustment needed. Tony Awolor (Tony Risky), who served as the senior prefect in 1969, held the top position in sprint events. Additionally, the author did not mention that St. Anthony’s borrowed "Bob Turner" (Cyril Dibia) from us, scoring one of the goals; his image appeared in The Nigerian Observer with the caption "Notre Dame marches into sudden death." (The author notes: It appears Odiaka refers to the finals of the Giwa-Osagie Cup tournament among mid-western secondary schools, where St. Anthony's College, Ubulu-Uku emerged victorious in 1969. My contribution includes discovering the Nigerian Observer article about this football game from 1969; however, I am uncertain whether Cyril Dibia’s photograph accompanied that particular account. Furthermore, I cannot confirm if the headline provided by Odiaka accurately reflected the content. To clarify further details like those concerning the semifinal between Anglican Grammar School, Ubulu-Uku—often referred to as 'Ubugrams'—and even the quarterfinal clash involving Immaculate Conception College—ICC—from Benin City against St. Anthony’s College, Ubulu-Uku—which we triumphantly won—I intend to address these aspects in subsequent narratives at some future date.)
Christian Odiaka went on: "We had them — fantastic people — Sanchohero, 'Iron Gate,' Lanky 7, and others. It was incredibly enjoyable and an honor to be part of Ubugrams back then."
However, Clement Okwufulueze, known as Piccolo, who is tall, attractive, modest, and remarkably talented, rises notably above everyone else. UP UBUGRAMS!
Thank you, Mr. Christian Odiakea; you validated my interpretation that Clement Okwufulueze wasn’t just exceptional but also a marvel in Nigeria’s high school sports legacy. Such a remarkable individual appears perhaps once in an era.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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