President of FC Ebedei, Barrister Churchill Oliseh after been honoured with the prestigious African Lifetime Leadership Award at the Oriental Hotels in Lagos.

Churchill’s recognition for the prestigious awards was 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.

Having distinguished himself with the discovery and marketing of talents to Europe, which in the long run contributed to all trophies, medals, and laurels won by Nigeria’s national football teams, the FC Ebedei was honoured with the African Lifetime Leadership Award for his contribution and development of football in Africa for his contribution and development of football in Africa by Africa Illustrious Award distinguished researchers and special panel.

A delighted Churchill, an elder brother of former Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, Azubuike and Eguatu, had this to say after receiving his award.

“It’s soothing to be honoured for being in the background and with one private resources engineering and midwife consistently the emergence of football stars that one’s nation and continent rely on.

“I am a firm believer in the uniqueness of the resources of Nigeria and, indeed, the African continent. Thank you to the almighty for his grace and mercies.

“Thank you, my family, my Glow, my team, Sunnymen, FCM, and my structures all around Nigeria.”

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.

After going into the finale of the four-team tourney which kicked off on November 18, a draw was the least the  Oluyole Warriors needed to be crowned champions, as they had a plus two goals difference ahead Cornerstone FC despite both teams levelled on 6points each.

That they did, as they went unbeaten in three matches, spicing it up with 9 points and scoring 14 goals.

Not minding Shooting Star’s elite status, Cornerstone FC showed they would be stubborn to beat after they took the lead after 18 minutes of play via a strike from Adeleke Olamilekan.

Ifeanyi Ihemekule cut short Cornerstone FC’s joy of going into the locker room with a one-goal advantage when he scored the equalizing goal in the added time of the first half.

Shooting Stars then showed class in the second half scoring two goals in the 63rd minute via a fantastic strike from Tosin Olawale while Joshua Akpan put the icing on the cake in the 85th minute after he steered the ball into the bottom corner with the third goal after beating his marker in the box. 

In the second final day game between 

FC Ebedei and Tradesafe FC ended in an 8-goal thriller, as the duo of Inyere James scored a hat-trick while Odekunle Musliu fired a brace to earn the Oliseh Boys their first 3 points.

After losing their first two matches each, FC Ebedei 1-4 Cornerstone FC, Shooting Stars 4-2 FC Ebedei and Shooting Stars 5-0 Tradesafe FC, Tradesafe FC 1-3 Cornerstone FC, both teams then set eyes for a third-place finish and three points at the FC Ebedei Stadium in Apele, Sagamu.

It was the Oliseh Boys that claimed the bragging rights going into the break with a comfortable three-goal lead with goals from Musliu and Inyere.

With five minutes gone in the second half FC Ebedei 4-0, Tradesafe FC after a  terrific pass from Samuel Victor played in Inyere, and he did the rest by coolly clipping the ball over the goalkeeper for his second. 

Trade-safe FC seemed to have started what could have been a comeback after their striker made it 4-1 in the 69th minute and soon became 4-2 in less than three minutes 

Inyere in the 74th minute gave FC Ebedei a three-goal cushion scoring his hat-trick to make it 5-2, after he broke in, from an on-side position to hammer home in confident fashion.

In the closing minutes of the game, Tradesafe FC gave themselves a pat on the back scoring the third goal to put the scoreline at 5-3.

Organisers of the maiden FC Ebedei/ FC Midtjylland Year-End Invitational Tournament billed to kick off on Friday November 18, have released fixtures for the event.

One of Africa’s best professionally administered football clubs, whose products have helped Nigeria win silverware since the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, FC Ebedei, iconic football brand Shooting Stars of Ibadan, and two Nationwide League One (NLO) Tradesafe and Cornerstone FC are taking part in the four-team mini tourney.

The FC Ebedei Stadium, Apele-Sagamu and the recently refurbished Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba-Ibadan are the host venues of the five-day FC Ebedei/ FC Midtjylland Year-End Invitational Tournament.

Fixtures made available by the Local Organising Committee(LOC) of the tourney informed that Tradesafe and Shooting Stars will lock horns in the first game of MatchDay 1 at 8am, while FC Ebedei takes on Cornerstone FC at 3 pm. Both matches will be played at the FC Ebedei Stadium Apele-Sagamu.

MatchDay 2 will be observed as a rest day, as action resumes at the FC Ebedei Stadium on the 20th with a Matchday 3 clash of experience and apprentice as Shooting Stars go head-to-head with FC Ebedei at 3 pm.

It will be a clash of two NLO teams on MatchDay 4 as Cornerstone FC hosts Tradesafe FC at the FC Ebedei Stadium.

Final fixtures on MatchDay 5 will be interesting as both matches will be played simultaneously at 3pm and the two different match venues.

The FC Ebedei Stadium will host the game between FC Ebedei and Tradesafe FC while Cornerstone FC will hope to slay the Oluyole Warriors in Adamasingba, Ibadan.

The winner of the tournament will get an automatic qualification to the next edition of the Gold Cup and also take part in an invitational tournament in Europe.

A total of 8 teams secured promotion to the NNL after they finished the season top of their groups and emerged victorious in the promotion playoffs.

The playoffs, which was hosted at neutral venues, had Smart City FC (Lagos State), Madiba FC (Lagos State), FC Ebedei (Ogun State), Police Barretta FC, Kun Khalifa FC (Imo State), Aspire FC (Anambra State), Jnr Danburan (Katsina State) and Mailatarki Care FC of the Federal Capital Territory, earning promotion to the Nigerian National League(NNL).

The eight teams will at the Legacy Pitch in Surulere, Lagos will slug it out in the championship play-off to determine the overall winner for the NLO 2022 season.

With arrival date for teams fixed for Sunday October 2nd, the opening fixtures of the championship play-off are JNR Danburan versus Madiba (10am), Aspire FC versus Police Barreta (12noon), Mailatarki Care FC versus FC Ebedei (2pm) and Smart City versus Kun Khalifa FC billed for 4pm respectively on 3rd October.

Below is the profile of the eight promoted teams:

MAILANTARKI CARE FC
Founded in 2021, the name Mailantarki Care FC was derived from the owner’s name – Hon Khamisu Ahmed Mailantarki – who created the football academy from his Foundation, Mailantarki Care Foundation, in order to discover and promote young talented players to professional level locally or internationally.

Mailantarki Care FC is affiliated to the FCT Football Association and duly registered and participated in both the FA Cup and Division I of the Nigeria Nationwide League One, where it was promoted in 2022 to the 2nd Tier Nigeria National League (NNL) in its first ever appearance in the NLO.

Nigeria’s U-17 World Cup winning coach Manu Garba OON is the club Technical Director and he guided the team to the achieve the aforementioned promotion as well as other international achievements in the 2022 Dana Cup and Norway Cup in Hjørring and Oslo respectively.

FC EBEDEI
FC Ebedei was founded in 1998 in Lagos, from where it moved to Sagamu in Ogun state. FC EBEDEI graduands regularly appear in the prestigious UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE for several European clubs as a result of the success of the club in selling players to clubs in Europe.

From inception FC EBEDEI has consistently graduated her alumni to the very top of World football, including the five top leagues of Europe and the senior national teams of Nigeria, with notable players such as Obafemi Martins, Ayodele Makinwa, Oluwafemi Ajilore, Paul Ebere Onuachu, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika Nwadike among others having their roots in the club. Interestingly FC EBEDEI has been champion of all tiers/divisions of the Nationwide League One.

MADIBA FOOTBALL CLUB
Madiba Football Club (often nicknamed ‘The Moving Train’) is a Nigerian football club based in Oshodi, Lagos state.

Founded in 2017 by Alhaja Adebisi Adeyemi Basirat, the club is primarily set up as an initiative to have a grassroots football club as a platform for recreational activity among the youth and also to serve as an avenue to discover talents and provide a pathway for such talented youth to keep away from anti-social vices and behaviour in the community.

In 2018, the continuous hard work of the club saw them finish 2nd in their first season in the Nationwide League One (NLO). In 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 season, Madiba FC also finished second in the NLO.

In the 2021/2022 season, Madiba FC maintained an unbeaten record in fourteen league matches in their C1 group, and on August 20, 2022, after topping the table, Madiba FC secured promotion to the Nigeria National League (NNL) after beating Beyond Limit FC from Ogun state on penalties at the NLO play-off held at the Lekan Salami stadium, Adamasingba Ibadan.

KUN KHALIFAT FC
Kun Khalifat Football Club was founded in 2020 by Mr. Michael Chukwudi Amaefula (Chairman). The club is based in Owerri, Imo State and they play their home games at (OISA) Onwubike International Soccer Stadium Ngor-Okpala, Imo State.

The club reached the NLO play-off in 2021 and won the AITEO Cup 2022 in Imo State, also topping their group at the end of the the Nationwide League One (NLO) 2022 season to gain Promotion to Nigeria National League (NNL).

Kun Khalifat Football Club is a full-time football club that takes part in national competitive games to enhance the rapid and professional growth of its players and provide exposure for their players to national and international football.

POLICE BARETTA FC
Police Baretta FC is a Nigeria Police team based in Gombe, Gombe state. The club is sponsored by the Nigeria Police Force under special dispensation of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, and serves as the police team. The chairman of the club is Garba Sule Yaro while the technical adviser is Coach Omatiga Gabriel.

Police Baretta FC was promoted to NLO Division 1 in 2019 and topped their group in the 2022 NLO season to gain promotion to NNL

SMART CITY FOOTBALL CLUB
Smart City Football Club is based in Lagos and is registered to train, develop and promote youth development through sports. Affiliated to Lagos state Football Association (LSFA), Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Federation of International Football Association (FIFA), Smart City FC is a club grown from the love of the game of soccer and managed by experienced staff made up of former football players and sports administrators with decades of experience, and with a dedication to developing future football players.

Smart City FC sets out its mission to provide instructional and competitive youth football opportunities that enhance character, community and love of the game, while also integrating development of self-esteem, self-confidence, teamwork, respect for self and other, and all the inherent benefits of physical exercise into its training programme, through quality coaching, sound leadership and absolute sincerity of purpose.

The club is solely sponsored by its President who ensures that it is able to perform many important team-related duties to keep up with other clubs in the NLO fold

JUNIOR DANBURAM FC DAURA
Junior Danburam FC Daura was established in 2002 by the Prince of Daura Alhaji Muhammad Daha Umar, and named after his traditional title of Danburam Daura. It is a privately owned and sponsored club

Junior Danburam FC Daura started with players between 12 and 13 years of age, competing in age grade local competitions where they won many trophies including:

1. Samba Challenge Cup in 2005.
2. Daura Local government Unity Cup in 2006.
3. Daura Emirate (Emir’s Cup) 2007
4. Daura Premier League 2008.
5. Katsina state Muslims/Christians Peace & Unity Cup

In 2009, Junior Danburam FC Daura started participating in the Katsina State Super League Competition where their outstanding performance in the tournament got them an automatic ticket to represent the State in Inter State U-17 Competition held in Kano, where they emerged the runner-up of the competition. Junior Danburam FC Daura also represented Katsina state in President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Peace and Unity Cup in 2011/2012 which they won to secure the ticket to represent Nigeria in UEA Dubai for an U-20 Local competition in that country. In 2013, the club were also runner-up in the Katsina State Sure-P Competition and a year later they participated in and won the state Governor’s Cup.

Their entry into Division III of the Nationwide League One in 2016 came about because they won State Super League and in 2017, they gained promotion to Division II of the NLO where they were till they were promoted in 2021/2022 to the NNL.

ASPIRE FC ADAZI- ANI
Aspire Football Club based in Anambra State, was born on 18th of September 2018, at a time when unemployment was rife manifesting in agitations, restiveness and insecurity and solutions that could provide a platform that would offer young people an opportunity for recognition and the expression of their talents.

The young club, made up of 50 amateur talents assembled from different parts of the state, were given a new home and exposed to effective training where their hunger for opportunity was let loose on the football pitch. In their very first season, they went ahead to become Anambra State FA champions defeating the likes of Ifeanyi Uba FC in the tournament. This team of undaunted players further became the NLO Division II champions the same year enabling them gain promotion to NLO Division 1.

The COVID 19 pandemic in 2020 disrupted football activities all over the globe, but right after the lifting of the lockdown, Aspire FC was on the field again topping their NLO Division I Group. Unfortunately for them, they lost at the league play-off, finishing in 2nd place and missing the opportunity for a second consecutive promotion.

In the 2021/2022 NLO Season, Aspire FC once again topped their NLO Division I Group and emerged successful at the playoffs, consequently gaining promotion to the Nigeria National League (NNL).

Secretariat of the nation’s third-tier domestic league announced via its media department that the Legacy Pitch, National Stadium in Surulere will host the six days.

Eight teams of Smart City FC (Lagos State), Madiba FC (Lagos State), FC Ebedei (Ogun State), Police Barretta FC, Kun Khalifa FC (Imo State), Aspire FC (Anambra State), Jnr Danburan (Katsina State) and Mailatarki Care FC of the Federal Capital Territory, will slug it out in the championship play-off to determine the overall winner for the NLO 2022 season.

The league body has also informed the team that it has made provision to accommodate a 25-man contingent, (made up of 20 players and five Officials) of each team.

The arrival date for all teams is fixed for Sunday, October 2nd while the kickoff date is 3rd October.

Opening fixtures of the championship play-off are Mailatarki Care FC versus FC Ebedei and Smart City versus Kun Khalifa FC billed for 2 and 4 pm respectively.

Meanwhile, the final is fixed for October 8th at the Legacy Pitch.

Barrister Churchill Oliseh, President of Nationwide League One (NLO) side, FC Ebedei has once again retriated his stand that football by made a business, rather than just winning trophies.

This was the pivotal point of the discussion as he schooled a delegation of private club owners and managers within the Ekiti football ecosystem, led by the State FA Chairman, Bayo Olanlege.

Oliseh’s August guest were on a working visit to the newly constructed multi-million Naira FC Ebedei Stadium in Sagamu, Ogun State.

Oliseh, the doyen of football business in Nigeria and astute manager stressed that if well administered with right ingredients, there is money to be made in football, hence private club owners and managers must always work towards making profits all times and not just be in the beautiful game for charity.

“Football is never charity, clubs owners need to make proper preparations and seek knowledge.

“The results you get are not by accident, they are by concerted efforts and that is why you must think beyond just winning medals and trophies, money making must be part of your plans as you run your football club at any level.”

Oliseh further noted that learning should be a continuous process if anyone will make headway in football business as the game keeps evolving each day.

“To make profit from your investments in football, you need to seek the right definition of the game by capacity building and networking with the right people.

“The definition of football varies, however what you think of football does not matter, but what the market says should be your ideal.”

Former Super Eagles midfielder, Ebenezer Oluwafemi Ajilore has poured encomiums on Barrister Churchill Oliseh for the multi-million Naira investment on FC Ebedei Stadium.

Ajilore, who started his professional career at FC Ebedei of Sagamu in 2002, and starred for FC Midtjylland of Denmark from 2004 to 2008, during which he scored five goals in 76 appearances, visited the club on Monday.

“I feel highly privileged to have passed through this academy and I owe my successes and all that I have achieved in life to FC Ebedei and club President Barrister Churchill Oliseh, who’s like a father figure to many of us,” said the Olympian.

“The visit to my boyhood club is memorable for me, and also to have a view of the FC Ebedei Stadium and off course the players who for me are the next football stars of tomorrow.

“I had a pep talk with them, all geared towards motivating and encouraging them to make the best use of the FC Ebedei platform, they keep focus, believe in themselves and give their best in training and matches.

“The facility I have seen at FC Ebedei is world class and same with what you find in some parts of Europe. The playing turf is standard and it’s practically what I have played on with some of the teams I featured for in Europe. As a player, you can’t ask for more than this quality.

“Such good facility brings out the best in players as they would want to give more in training and matches.

“A big kudos to Barrister Churchill Oliseh for thinking this big by investing into this multi-million Naira project. FC Ebedei is a platform that has helped a lot of youths in Nigeria.

“The academy has taken many youths off the streets, which in the long run has helped to curb crime as many of these youngsters are no longer idle but engaged as they pursue a career in football.

“For me, am also delighted that am the first FC Ebedei product to featured for FC Midtjylland, so this project will produce more future stars for the Super Eagles.”

Ajilore who helped Nigeria to winning a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games men’s football event, made his debut for the Super Eagles against Colombia in an international friendly on November 19, 2008.

Indigenous FIFA and CAF certified synthetic pitch installation firm, Alansmith Nigeria Limited has earned applauses from Super Eagles duo of Paul Ebere Onuachu and Frank Onyeka over the good job done at the FC Ebedei Stadium in Sagamu, Ogun State.

The KRC Genk of Belgium and Brentford of England Stars during the week paid a surprised visit to their boyhood club were they trained and held mind-blowing talk with the players.

After the training session, the FC Ebedei legends who were marveled at the work done at the stadium took time to thank President of the club, Barrister Churchill Oliseh for splashing millions into the project.

“Daddy (Barrister Churchill Oliseh) have taken the club to a whole new level. The multi-million FC Ebedei Stadium edifice is top class and one similar to what you find in many leagues in Europe.

“The construction firm have also done a good job with the quality of job and turf it installed in the FC Ebedei Stadium, this will help the players improve a lot.

“When they also travel to any part of Europe for trials, such players can easily get use with the playing turfs of these stadia.”

Joshua Adamu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the firm thanked the Super Eagles duo for their kind words as he informed that: “The FC Ebedei Stadium pitch is a FIFA 2-star rated pitch with shock pads and 60mm grass carefully and professionally laid.

“The specified turf was tested at LaboSports in Europe, the specification allows for speed, ball bounce and ankle movement for players all tested and proven to be accurate.

“Also the French drain system installed on the pitch can not get waterlogged when matches are played in the rain.”

Meanwhile, Alansmith is major player in sports construction from stadium seats to all sporting surfaces, acrylic, PP Floors and various synthetic grasses for different sports, from soccer, hockey, basketball, tennis and all sports generally from concept to drawing and construction.

Super Eagles duo of Paul Ebere Onuachu and Frank Onyeka during the week paid a surprised visit to their boyhood club FC Ebedei in Sagamu, Ogun State.

The KRC Genk of Belgium and Brentford of England stars spent few years playing for the academy owned by Barrister Churchill Oliseh before travelling to pursue a career in Denmark with Midtjylland.

Newly married Onuachu and Onyeka, who are currently on holidays in Nigeria after a successful season with their respective clubs, took time out from their busy schedule as they paid a visit to the management, coaches and players of the Nationwide League One (NLO) club side.

It will be a lifetime experience for players of the FC Ebedei after they trained and shared exciting moments with the Super Eagles duo.

Onuachu and Onyeka who graduated from FC Ebedei in 2012 and 2016 respectively also had peep talk with the players as they urged them to train harder, shun social vices as they can be the next football stars from Nigeria and indeed Africa.

A delighted Onuachu shared a post on social media platform Instagram, “Very happy to visit the Academy, Barrister Churchill Oliseh, thanks for all you have done for us and still doing more, God bless you Sir .”

Overwhelmed by their visit, President of FC Ebedei Barrister Churchill Oliseh said: “A big thank you to Paul and Frank for coming around to see the lads, and this is what we have been championing that our stars visit their boyhood clubs. God bless both of you and together we appreciate you both, keep the flag flying and more successes ahead.’

Meanwhile, Oyenka will be out with Nigeria for this month’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Sierra Leone and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Nigeria hosts Sierra Leone on Thursday 9th June, before flying to Marrakech, Morocco to tackle São Tomé and Príncipe on Monday, 13th June.