By Emeka Obasi
Dan Anyiam planned to create a standing Feeder team to boost the Green Eagles. The idea was about bringing the best young legs from the four Regions and camp them in Lagos. Chief Eddie Enwere was one of those selected from the Eastern Region.
Anyiam gave the team a name. The seniors were known as Green Eagles. The Junior Eagles became Federal Star Club. Enwere lived in Aba but was a student of National High School, Oguta owned by Chief H. P. Udom.
Enwere said : " I was in the team Dan Anyiam put up in 1965 in the bid to create Junior Eagles."
This got me thinking. I always felt the first set of Junior Eagles came in 1977 when players like Stephen Keshi, Sylvanus Okpala, Prince Afejukwu, Bright Omokaro, Humphrey Edobor, Franklin Howard, Sam Igwenagu and Sunday Nwokocha were called to camp.
The Federal Stars were different from the Academicals who could also break into Green Eagles team as School Boys International. Players like Johnny Egbuonu, Mike Nwokedi, Sam Garba Okoye, Peter Anieke, Muyiwa Oshode and Tony Igwe followed that course.
That same year, 1965, Garba Okoye led Nigerian Academicals to beat their Ghanaian counterparts, home and away, for the first time. It ended 1-0 in Accra and 2-1 in Lagos.
Among Enwere's Eastern Region contemporaries were Dominic Nwobodo, Chidi Amaugo, Felix Abii, Emma Alagoa and Egbuonu. Temple Benson was a good friend.
Anyiam captained Nigeria and was also the first Nigerian coach to be trained overseas. He became the first indigenous manager of the senior national team.
Anyiam began with Zik's Athletic Club ( ZAC) in Lagos but moved round other teams as a player. He knew the Eastern Region very well and after coaching Ikpeazu Redoubtables to the semifinals of the Challenge Cup in 1958, settled down in the East for a while.
Enwere lived in Aba. The Enyimba City produced good players even without winning the Challenge Cup until 2005. Kenneth Olayombo and his elder brother, Burniston, were born and bred in Aba.
Both played for Nigeria and remain the first from the same family to represent the country in the African Nations Cup. Burniston was at Ghana '63, Kenneth debuted at Ethiopia '76.
Anyiam kept eyes on Aba. He hailed from Nkwerre. There was his townsman, Mark Onyejiaka, well known for his skills. The Onyejiaka family was so popular.
While Mark played soccer, his sister, Gina, was a beauty queen. Their medical doctor cousin became even more popular in death. He was bombed by Egyptian pilots, flying Russian MiG jets for the Nigerian AirForce, during the Civil War.
Mark died in a car crash after the war. Gina made Dee Sam Mbakwe's cabinet when he was governor of Imo State. Another Onyejiaka, Willy was also part of that Executive Council.
Anyiam had seen Francis Obi Okoye ( Iron Gate) and Isaac Nnado play in the defence for Nigeria. The coach knew Reuben Onyejiaka ( not related to Mark), watched Ngwakwe and Ajasco tap the round leather.
Enwere coming from Aba as good defender impressed Anyiam. The invitee was also a good tennis player. Bone-Breaker was his nickname.
Unlike today, Enwere's invitation to camp spoke volumes. His allowance was clearly spelt out by H.O. Omokhaye, on behalf of the Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Association.
The letter, dated April 27, 1965 stated : " Cost of your transport to Lagos will be refunded at the rate of Id ( one penny) per mile and you will be entitled to an allowance of 5/- ( five shillings) a day from the day you leave your station."
That was when Nigeria worked. Chief Gabriel Akin Deko was Chairman, National Sports Commission of Nigeria. The same man was a minister in the Western Region and was found worthy by the United Nations as Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The player arrived the 146 Ogunlana Drive Surulere NFA Hostel and the first shocker was when something fell off the training gear of a fellow invitee.
" Old boy, what's that?" Enwere sought to know. The response jolted him. "It's my thing, for protection. Don't you have yours?"
...Emeka Obasi is the Editor-in-Chief of the Next Edition Online News. NNL.
