Grassroots Football Improvement in Sapele From 19501980

Sapele is a city in southwestern Nigeria, located in Delta State. Sapele is located at the headwaters of the Benin River, which flows out to the Niger Delta.

Football growth in Sapele started off in the 1950's, when football was just at its infancy in Nigeria, and Sapele a city noted for excellence was at the fore front in football then. The then Sapele township stadium was among the initial produced stadium in Nigeria The want to totally develop football at the grassroots degree gave birth to the Sapele Amateur Football Association in 1987.

This was swiftly followed by the staging of the inaugural Sapele Cup of Nations Competition in 1988. It was a levels of competition that featured sixteen groups from Sapele and environs. Some of the groups that participated at the inaugural Cup of Nations opposition include: K.B Stars, Athletico De Marin, Ghana Black Stars and Loaders F.C.

The competitors was set collectively by Mr. Gabriel Igarri and Mr. Dan Evumena. It is exciting to note that the inaugural Sapele Cup of Nations trophy was donated by Chief P.D.O Akpeki the Ugo of Okpe Kingdom. Heading back to football development in Sapele, it is worthy of be aware to recall that in 1968, Nova Luna Football Club was shaped. It was the 1st Youth club in Sapele. It was founded by Late Mr. Tony Okonedo who was then a Graded football referee. He also founded Girls Football club that same 12 months. Right after the formation of Nova Luna, arrived Niger Pools Football club in 1969. It was shaped by the Niger Pools business.

It later metamorphosed into Strangers Football Club in 1969 which was formed by former gamers of Niger Pools F.C. Strangers Football club was then captained by Olayinka John( Ayogi) who died on the 7th of January 2010 soon after a protracted sickness. The club existed for two and a half a long time.

In 1971, Ethiope F.C Sapele was formed and it acquired prominence due to the caliber of gamers in its fold then. When it was rumored that the club will be leaving Sapele for a new base, the then Governor of Bendel State- Osaigbovo Ogbemudia took more than the affairs of the club and re-named it New Nigeria Financial institution F.C, with its base in Sapele.

There were four State club in the then Bendel State

Ethiope Football Club (Later re-named New Nigeria Bank F.C Sapele)
Viper F.C Benin (Later re-named Bendel Insurance coverage of Benin)
Ika Rangers F.C Agbor (Later re-named Midwest Line F.C)
Warri Wolves F.C Warri (Later re-named Midwest Line F.Cz)

These 4 clubs had been later handed about to various organizations by the then Bendel State Government.

In 1971/72, there was the eleven brothers F.C and Eleven Strikers F.C equally centered in Sapele.
Late Olayinka John (Ayogi) was the then coach of eleven brothers. The club created the likes of German Odjegbe who was the then captain of Bendel U-17 football team that won Gold medal at the 1973 Nationwide Sports activities Festival. The club also produced Prince Afejukwu, Oshoff Shogbene, goalkeeper Nasiru Momoh, Samuel Afejukwu and Ighoraye Ogayone. Eleven Strikers F.C had been then captained by Monday Daibo and the group had the likes of Andrew Boyo.

In 1973, Ethiope F.C later re-named New Nigeria Bank F.C left Sapele and in 1974, the group was then acknowledged as Custom and Exercising F.C. A bulk of gamers from Strangers F.C Sapele formed the Customized F.C which was then underneath the Custom and Physical exercise Department.

The group was then captained by inspirational defender Gabriel Igarri from 1975 to 1983. Inside this period below evaluation, there were other groups that sprang up in the Sapele metropolis. These include: Federal government Coastal Company F.C - Founded in 1976, Seaboard F.C (Comprising Delta Packaging company, Life Flour Mills and Top feeds)- founded in 1977 and Palm Line Company F.C- Founded in 1977. From these three groups, a joint staff torepresent Sapele was formed. It was then referred to as Urhiapele F.C. Urhiapele F.C was founded in the 1985/1986 season. The club did not even so last extended due to administrative difficulties. They only played one pleasant match in opposition to the Nigerian Nationwide Petroleum Firm Football Club Warri.

There was also the Rainbow Football club which arrived into existence in 1980. The club which was then playing in the State League/ State Problem Cup was sponsored by Chief Michael Ibru. One particular notable participant that arrived out of the ranks of Rainbow F.C was Goalkeeper Andrew Aikhomogbe who later rose to prominence and represented the U-17 Nationwide crew the Golden Eaglets at the FIFA U-17 Championship tagged Scotland 89.

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