Ernest Chinwo
5 October 2008
Calabar — The remains of Nigeria's foremost football administrator, Etubom Oyo Orok Oyo was on Friday laid to rest in his family house at number 14 Edgerly Road, Calabar.
The burial was preceded by a colourful but solemn ceremony at the U. J. Esuene Stadium attended by the cream of the football family in Nigeria and Africa as well as government officials.
Those in attendance included the Director General of the National Sports Commission, Dr. Amos Adamu, who represented both the FIFA President, Mr. Joseph Sepp Blatter and the Federal Government; Mr. Moses Canaya, who represented CAF; Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi; Chairman of the Nigerian Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo and Austin Akosa, among others.
While the funeral service conducted by the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria was going on, the casket, designed like a football field with football engraved on it, lay on a two-tier dais covered with green-white-green cloth.
It was an event for the outpouring of emotions and tributes to a man popularly called "Mr. Football" for his contributions to the beautiful game both within and outside the Nigeria.
Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, in his tribute said the death of Etubom Oyo, at the age of 86 years, "remains a colossal loss to Cross River State, Nigeria, Africa and indeed the entire football world."
He, however, added: "His tremendous achievements in his chosen field of endeavour have obviously transformed both sorrow and pain into a celebration of life."
Imoke said the Late Oyo: "Not only loved the game of football with an undying passion, he was able to show how the activities of one man can positively touch the lives of millions of others."
While expressing optimism that the legacies of Oyo would last for many years to come, Imoke said: "world football has indeed lost an icon who took football management to the highest heights."
The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Dr. Amos Adamu, who represented the Minister of Sports, Abdulrahman Gimba and the FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
described Oyo as "a sports ambassador, sportsman, devoted sports administrator par excellence who turned his ability into ability."
He also said Oyo was humble and hardworking and commended him for his contributions.
In a graveside oration, the president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi said: "I feel a special privilege to be delivering this oration at the graveside of a man who personified highest-level commitment, sacrifice, inspiration, diligence, selflessness, polish and direction for Nigeria football to arrive at the junction it is today.
"Here lies a man who from his youth worked assiduously and blamelessly for the growth of the game. His passion and vision, powerfully driven by his perseverance, discipline, dedication and quest for endless knowledge, helped deliver the Challenge Cup (known today as the FA Cup) to the Red Devils of Port Harcourt for the first time in 1956, and again in 1958, before he went on to serve in Enugu and finally arrived at the national level in 1960.
"The role that Late Etubom Oyo Orok Oyo played in steering Nigeria football on the right track from the day the country gained independence in 1960, until he left to serve at continental and global levels in 1974, will be fully scripted another day. But for now, we say that he was a true pilot light, a missionary, a grassroots developer without equal and an emblem of patriotism, exceptional quality, versatility, industry, adroit management and Godliness.
"At the same time, we realize that Etubom Oyo more than deserve to be immortalized. His contributions to Nigeria sports will never be forgotten. On our part, we have decided to, in true deference to his role as a grassroots developer without peer name the National U-13 Football Competition after him. The said competition will now be known as Oyo Orok Oyo National U-13 Championship."
He said the NFF was still discussing with the Federal Government on how to further immortalise the late football icon, adding that "Our hope for a better tomorrow in the game of football, and indeed other sports, must derive push, power and drive from the untainted vision for greatness that the Late Etubom had for Nigeria all his life."
In a biography read by the first son of the late administrator, Barr. Orok Oyo, the family said the late Oyo was born on August 27, 1922 and died on September 10, 2008, after spending almost his entire life in football administration.
But after the tributes, it was members of the Nigerian Supporters Club that added pep to the ceremony with their drums and trumpets, reeling out Christian songs after songs.
They led the people from the Stadium to the family house where he was interred.
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