Sports
Former Green Eagles goalie, Emmanuel Okala, turns 70
Nigeria’s football legend and former Green Eagles goal keeper, Emmanuel Oguajiofor Okala, on Monday joins the league of septuagenarians.
He won the award for “Footballer of the Year” in 1978 after winning the 1980 African Cup of Nations tournament while representing Nigeria.
Okala was one of the heroes of the gold-medal winning team of the Second All Africa Games in 1973, a member of the winning squad of the 1980 African Cup of Nations, and a member of the 1977 Africa Cup-Winners’ Cup Rangers International FC team.
In his prime, Babuje as he was fondly called, was undoubtedly the most famous and most recognisable sports figure on the African continent with his imposing six feet five inches frame.
His fearsome disposition between the goal posts, and his completely harmless and humane person outside it were revered.
Okala remains, to date, the first and only goalkeeper in the history of African football to be crowned Africa’s Player of the Year by the African Sports Journalists Union, ASJU, in 1975.
-
Entertainment19 hours ago
Controversial wedding: Nigerians backs Wofai, Taiwo Cole
-
Metro23 hours ago
Lagos to demolish over 100 shanties at Adeniji Adele
-
Entertainment19 hours ago
Davido blacklists Abuja barber who called him music industry 003
-
Metro23 hours ago
Police rearrest Edo prisoner who fled during EndSars
-
News23 hours ago
Israel to shut down ‘Hamas trumpet’ Al Jazeera
-
News11 hours ago
Kidnappers sleep off after abducting Ondo pastor’s wife, others
-
News10 hours ago
Two suspects arrested over missing DELSU student’s killing
-
News7 hours ago
IKEDC reduces electricity tariff for Band A customers