Ah, Thursdays! The official day for reminiscing. Today, I’m taking you down memory lane with a story that hits right in the feels. Oh not to worry, we don’t have to travel that far.
Growing up in Abia State, Tuesday and Thursday nights were prime time. At exactly 8:30 pm, my ears were glued to the radio for “Ntị Nara Rie,” a storytelling program on our beloved state-owned station. These weren’t just any stories; they took us back to when the world was still nestled comfortably “n’okpuru ukwu ụkwa” (under the breadfruit tree). It was a time of magical tales that left us wide-eyed, inspiring today’s blog.
Now, we’re not diving into folklore today, but I’ve got a story that’s still fresh enough to raise some smiles. Let’s talk about our first showdown this year with Shooting Stars Sports Club. You know exactly the match I’m talking about—January 21, 2024.
Picture this: it was smack in the middle of the AFCON (2023, held this year), and our then-boss, Finidi George, was off assisting Jose Peseiro with the Super Eagles in Ivory Coast. That left his deputy, and now the man in charge, Yemi “Star Coach” Olarenwaju, to hold the fort.
There was a charged atmosphere, as expected. It’s Enyimba vs Shooting Stars—the club that terrorized the continent as IICC Shooting Stars in the 70s and 80s, right on their home turf at Adamasingba in Ibadan. And then there’s us—the NPFL juggernauts, the team whose presence is always felt, from Aba to Zaria.
It was a “night” game, beamed live on TV, and after a barren first half, we finally broke the deadlock 9 minutes into the second half. That goal held the fort for 30 good minutes before they snuck in an equalizer. But fate had other plans.
Enter Izuogu Chibueze—unsuspecting, and probably just as shocked as the rest of us when he latched onto a loose ball near the centerline. And then, boom! He let off a screamer that no one saw coming, least of all their goalkeeper. From that distance, it felt like a goal crafted by the football gods themselves, sealing all 3 points.
That victory kickstarted an unbeaten run against any club named “Shooting Stars” for the rest of the year—four matches, two countries, two tournaments.
Why the trip down memory lane today? This weekend, we’re heading back to Adamasingba to face 3SC again, with Yema still at the helm. We won’t have Mbaoma (now in Libya) or Izuogu (on loan in Moldova), but trust me, we’ve got enough firepower to create new memories.
Just like our last encounter, this weekend’s “night” game will be live on TV. And guess what? We’ve got a chance to end the year without losing to any “Shooting Stars”!
So, keep your fingers crossed and your voices loud as we go for all 3 points. And to those keeping an eye on Zamalek’s “panic” buys—yeah, we see them scrambling. Talk for another day.
Back tomorrow.
‘EnyimbaEnyi
