Emir Of Minna Showers Royal Blessings On Bala, As Tornadoes Coach Gets Fan Award

The Emir of Minna His Royal Highness (Dr.) Umar Farouq Bahago has assured Coach Bala Abubakar and Niger Tornadoes that traditional institutions and Minna fans will massively support the team in its quest for trophies when the new Nigeria Professional Football League kicks off in January.

Speaking when a delegation of the Ikoh Allah Boys led by amiable Coach Bala paid homage to the Paramount Ruler in his Palace during the week.

The Emir assured Bala and the team, that with the support of the palace and the good people of Niger State, Tornadoes will record successes this season. 

“It was wise of you, on behalf of the club to come to seek my royal blessings. I want to wish the team and its officials well and I'm certain that at the end of the season, Niger Tornadoes will finish among the top teams."

A delighted Coach Bala while presenting a signed replica of Tornadoes' jersey and match balls to the palace, the Emir for his kind words and assured that Tornadoes will give 200 per cent of its best and compete well this season.

"I want to use this medium to express my heartfelt appreciation to our Royal Father, the Emir of Minna for his royal blessings, as it's the best tonic we needed going into the new league season." 

Meanwhile, despite still basking in the euphoria of being crowned the 2022 Gusau/Ahlan Cup Pre-season Tourney champions in Kano, Bala said the team will not rest on its oars, as Tornadoes is still a team in progress.

"I want to choose my words carefully, Yes we are champions of the Gusau/Ahlan Cup, but that doesn't mean Tornadoes will have an easy ride when the season comes.

"Mind you it's going to be a marathon and a different ball game entirely as there are tougher NPFL teams.  Tornadoes will be ready, play no team with respect but take the matches as they come."

In a separate development, Coach Bala Abubakar has added another award to his shelf after the Niger Tornadoes Fans Club honoured him with an award for Excellence Performance. 

The award was presented to him at the club secretariat Saturday morning by top officials of the Niger Tornadoes Fans Club.

Africa Illustrious Award Honours FC Ebedei President Churchill Oliseh

 

Churchill Oliseh Bags African Lifetime Leadership Award

Organisers of the Africa Illustrious Award will on Friday(tomorrow), honour President of FC Ebedei, Barrister Churchill Oliseh, with the prestigious African Lifetime Leadership Award.

Early in his football management life Oliseh was confronted with the dwindling and failing state of Nigeria’s football that was responsible for Nigeria players’ inability to neither attain the pinnacle of world football nor sustain such where they achieve same. He has now been found worthy of the award. 

The said award is revered and conferred on individuals and organizations who have excelled in leadership, philanthropy, community development, business, academia, technology, education, agriculture, and entrepreneurship across Africa.

Since 1995, Churchill Oliseh has contributed players to all trophies, medals, and laurels won by Nigeria national football teams. Including the Atlanta Olympics gold medal where he brought in Dosu Joseph, who never participated in the qualifiers. Presently, there are hardly any Nigeria Premier league teams without a graduate of his FC EBEDEI or in the recent past.

Recall FC Ebedei came into the limelight in 1998, but the actual events that led to its formation came as far back as 1993. 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 former Super Eagles 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.

His interaction with European football investors and administrators convinced him that the most powerful and influential position in the development of football was that of the club president.

The job of Churchill is straightforward; he discovers outstanding raw talents from the most remote parts of Nigeria, including the security challenged areas. Develop such a player in FC Ebedei and promote thereafter. He is the largest sole contributor to the pool of Nigerias exceptional football players.

Notable among such are the fast rising Super Eagles striker, Paul Onuachu (GENK), and Eagles' new invitees, Frank Onyeka(BRENTFORD), Raphael Onyedika Nwadike(BRUGGE), midfielder Ajilore Oluwafemi, David Babajide Akintola, Sylvester Igboun Izunna Uzochukwu, OBAFEMI MARTINS just to mention a few.

FC Ebedei also produced Razak Omotoyosi for the BENIN REPUBLIC national team and Sekou Jabateh OLISEH for the LIBERIA National team. Malta senior and the Spanish national youth team included. 

His recognition for the prestigious award is in line with Africa Illustrious Award vision to project and promote excellence in Africa, not as an exception, but as a consistent pattern in the modern African experience.

After due diligence; the Africa Illustrious Award team, made up of seasoned professionals, distinguished researchers, a special panel, and the public found Oliseh worthy to receive the AFRICAN LIFETIME LEADERSHIP AWARD for his contribution and development of football in Africa.

This prestigious award, first of its kind to be awarded a club President in Nigeria's football family.