It was fun at Obazuwa Primary School, Ovia North East Local Government Area on Wednesday evening as Stephen Keshi Football and Vocational Skill Training Centre mobilized a galaxy of Ex-football stars from within Edo and outside to play in honour of their late Grand patron Prince Edun Akenzua.
The novelty match according to the Keshi Skill Centre, was organised to show their last respect for the Enogie of Obazuwa who joined his ancestors recently.
Some of the Footbal greats that graced the occasion include Exinternational and for player and coach of Bendel Insurance FC Baldwin Bazuaye (MON),
Clement Okoye of New Nigeria Bank FC, Ex-International. Ex-BCC Lions of Gboko defence strongman coach Owens and ex-Edo Queens and Falcons star Otasowie Ogbonmwan. Others include ExBendel Insurance FC players Bright Omokaro,Peter Obanor. Insurance FC Assistant coaches Greg Ikhenoba and Stanley Osazee . Austin Iyamu former Goalkeeper Bendel Insurance. Austin Popo Secretary, Keshi Football and vocational Skill Centre.
The chairman,Edo Sports Commission Yussuf Alli and the chairman,Edo Football Association comrade Roland Abu also graced the occasion.
As the entertaining novelty match kicked off,former Golden Eaglet Baldwin Bazuaye opened scoring for team Obazuwa within two minutes of proceeding . Sunday Black scored a brace for team Stephen Keshi . Bazuaye got a brace to make it 3-2 after a solo effort to put his side in front again.
Omosigho had levelled up for his 2-2 five minutes before Bazuaye”s strike . The first half ended 3-2 in favour of Obazuwa side.
On resumption of the second half,Sunday Black level up for his side to tie the game at 3-3 but the celebration was short lived as Ex-falcons player Otasowie Ogbonmwan increased the tally for Obazuwa team to make it 4-3. The game ended 5-3 with Baldwin scoring a hattrick.
Speaking after the match, the chairman,SKFVC Dr Louis Brown Ogbeifun described the late Patron Prince Edun Akenzua as a strong Pillar and father who demonstrated true friendship and love towards exfootballers and the game of football. ” we decided to play for late our royal father who graciously gifted a parcel of land measuring 1000 ×1000 for the Stephen Keshi Football and vocational skill Centre in Obazuwa.” To that effect,we chose to play the novelty match in Obazuwa village to send forth our patron who has joined his ancestors, so to let the people of late Enogie to be part of it. When we were planning how to immortalise late Stephen Keshi,the late Enogie of Obazuwa willingly gave the big parcel of land for free. That is why the array of Exinternationals is here to play in his honour for free.”
The host Crown prince Agharese Akenzua whated the game and later entertained the visitors in his palace expressed his appreciation of the Exinternationals and the Stephen Keshi Skill Centre management for travelling from far and near to honour his late father in style.
He promised to continue with hos father’s legacy,assuring the Exinternationals and Stephen Keshi foundation that the healthy relationship between the royal family and the Keshi Foundation under his father will not change under him.
