FC Ebedei came into limelight in 1998, but the actual events that led to its formation came as far back as 1993. The president and founder of the club Barrister Churchill Oliseh had ventured into players’ representation as a legal practitioner and an astute sports businessman, one of the few successful in Nigeria.
Churchill is the elder brother of ex-international and former Super Eagles Head Coach Sunday Oliseh. Apart from Sunday, Azubuike and Eguatu were also professional footballers. So we can understand where the vast knowledge and exceptional vision came from.
Oliseh was confronted with the dwindling and failing state of our football and the Nigeria football tree, this state of affairs was responsible for Nigeria players’ inability to neither attain the pinnacle of world football nor retain such where they achieve same.
The mentality of our players was to consider football as a past time, an avenue to display flamboyance, a life devoid of rules, a temporary source of employment that required no prior investment be it time, training, dedication, restraint nor professionalism.
There was also the absence of a known and potent brand of football that could be called Nigerian. Nigerians could however tell what the Cameroonian, Ghanaian, Brazilian and South African brand of football and footballers were.
Barrister Churchill interaction with European football investors and administrators convinced him that the most powerful and influential position in development of football was that of the club president.
From the position of club president you could propagate your brand of football, your brand of professionalism and the luxury of influencing the growth and personality of your team, players and administrators and consequently the larger society.
FC Ededei play in the Nationwide League One (NLO), the third-tier in the Nigerian football structure.
The fact is, Churchill formed the club with a specific vision, to serve as feeder team to clubs abroad. The club has no interest in the club gaining promotion to either Nigeria National League (NNL) or the elite league Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). Perhaps, to keep the club's overhead low to a manageable level.
The job of Churchill is straight forward, discover outstanding raw talent, develop the player in FC Ebedei and promote him for sometime, then market the player to Denmark or other countries as the opportunity shows up.
FC Ebedei is about giving future and hope to its members, apostles and followers. Presently there is no team in Africa that can match FC Ebedei impact on present generation of players, and all their graduates have arrived at the world level of football and are giving flesh to our various Nigerian National teams.
FC Ebedei serve as the African feeder team of FC Midtjylland in the Danish Superliga championship. Ebedei affiliate with the Danish club has resulted to the transfer of over 200 players from Nigeria, who have gone on to play in Denmark, Norway, Austria, Belgium...
Notable among is the fast rising Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu, and Eagles new invitee Frank Onyeka, midfielder Ajilore Oluwafemi, Babatunde Collins (Baba Collins), Adigun Salami, Ayinde Lawal. Others are Yakubu Abubakar Akilu, (defensive midfielder), Jude Ikechukwu Nworua (a very enterprising striker); Adeola Runsewe, Sylvester Igboun and Izunna Uzochukwu, Samson Iyede, David Akintola, to mention a few.
Remember Obafemi Martins was also transferred from FC Ebedei to Inter Milan. Then strikers Adeshina Lawal and Justice John Erhenede, to Vejle BK Norway. Forward Akeem Agbetu transferred to inj Kolding FC in Austria.
FC Ebedei also receive support from FC Midtiylland, training equipment and kits - which goes a long way to bring down the club's overhead.
According to Barrister Oliseh he said the vision of FC Ebedei is powered by Jeremiah 29 v. 11 which states, “For the thought that I think towards you says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
The club develops and sustains a football culture and tradition for Nigeria and Africa; make footballers empowered with personality primed for progress, success, family and the fear of God.
Today FC Ebedei graduates are yearly part of UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and the Nigeria Premiership and they have all reached the leagues of Italy, England, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Romania, Greece, and Holland, Serbia amongst others and in the blessed land of Nigeria.
FC Ebedei have become synonymous with youths, talents, professionalism even the opponents of the team can admits they preach and practice a brand of football that unique them.
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