When Enugu Rangers lifted the African Winners Cup in 1977, some of their stars were school boys recruited the previous year by Coach Dan Anyiam. One of them, Emma Merenini, left for the United States a year later.
Unfortunately, many Nigerians may not know Merenini, an all rounder who also did well in athletics. Recently, he wanted to find out if there was a record of matches played by secondary schools in the old East Central State (ECS).
“Emeka, do you know if there are records of secondary School football competitions during our time?,” he inquired from his Houston, United States base.
This is Merenini, playing for Holy Ghost College, Owerri, who almost single handedly wrecked Government Secondary School, Owerri in a 4-0 pounding fifty years ago. In 1976, fresh from school, he debuted for Enugu Rangers against Green Buffaloes of Zambia.
I was at Government Secondary School, Owerri at the time. However, Professor Basil Okeahialam, of the University of Jos, did a better job with records. He was three years my senior and went deep into History with interesting notes.
Okeahialam said: “Merenini was the Tormentor – in – Chief when Holy Ghost defeated us 4-0 in 1974. Perhaps, the secret behind it was that their coach, Sunny Aguta (Sunny Soccer), was once captain of Government Secondary School and until the end of 1972, part of our technical crew”.
Holy Ghost College, also known as Arugo, continued winning. In the semifinals of the ECS Secondary Schools Competition, they beat Azia High School 1-0, with Okey Isima scoring. In the grand finale, Government Secondary School, Afikpo got a 5-1 pounding.
Okeahialam delved into the Archives to highlight the rivalry between the two Owerri Schools. In 1972, Holy Ghost College were ECS defending champions. When they met Government College in the Owerri Zonal finals, the latter won 2-1.
The winning team comprised Ebenezer Sibigam (Stormy Weather) in goal, Nicholas Ihejieto (Bahador), Sebastian Odu (Sukana), Chukwuma Onyeaghala (Newman), Sammy Okonkwo (Hurricane), Charles Megwa (Ali Wad), Daniel Okorie, Malachi Megwa and Emmanuel Chimezie (Chimebro ). Two others, identified as Englishman and Original, were there as well.
Onyeaghala made it to Enugu Rangers. Sadly, he died with four members of the Supporters Club, in an accident around Ijebu Ode, on the Benin – Shagamu Expressway, during the Flying Antelopes continental campaign in 1975. John Azinge, Chike Ikebuaku and John Uwanaka sustained injuries.
Sibigam became a famous commentator at the Imo Broadcasting Service, alongside Agwu Nwogo and Sam Rose Anyaugo. Apparently, not many of the footballers who listened to his radio commentaries knew that he was so good that in 1974, the Arugo goalie, Mathew Onyeacho, adopted his nickname, Stormy Weather.
Among the Holy Ghost champions of 1971 were Patrick Ekeji, Obed Ariri and Johnny Nwadioha. The 1974 cup winners included Merenini, Isima, Adolphus Dike, Bruno Obi, Charles Kagha, Godwin Gbenimachor and Tony Merenini. Before them were Elkanah Onyeali, the first to score more than a hat – trick for the senior national football team, goalkeeper Arthur Nzeribe and Fabian Osuji.
Hogosco were dethroned in 1975, by Dennis Memorial Grammar School ( DMGS ), Onitsha. Among the new champions were Skipper Nnamdi Anyafo (formerly known as Wasky before Ernest Okonkwo made him Policeman ), Nwachukwu Onyekwelu ( Igaliga) and Vincent Chika ( Macbeth ).
The Merenini Brothers, Tony and Emma, never played against themselves. “We did not play against each other. Unfortunately, Tony died some years back,” Emma said. His brother, fondly called Takwa, starred for city rivals, Vasco Da Gama.
Emma Merenini left Nigeria, with Anyafo, a Ghana 1978 African Nations Cup bronze medalist, in the summer of 1978. They were room mates at the Alabama A and M University.
Merenini did not only bag a post graduate degree, he won gold in Wanda, who also studied in the same institution. They have been married for 42 years now and have a son, Altonio, who is doing other things outside soccer.
Nigeria is always on Merenini’s mind. After the 2023 elections, he sent a poser. “Why is INEC being so irresponsible. I hope the courts are not compromised too.” Some of his Rangers 1977 team mates – Arthur Ebunam, Vincent Chika, Charles Adimora, Nwachukwu Onyekwelu, Isima – moved to the US.
In America, they keep records. Okwudiba Nnoli who captained Government Secondary School, Owerri to win the Phensic Cup for Eastern Nigerian Schools in 1960 following a 3-1 win over Hope Waddell, Calabar, also captained Stanford University, from 1962. He is still celebrated over there in the United States.
In Nigeria, Sports Minister Emeka Omeruah, mapped out plans for a National Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. I was involved and remember seeing Justin Onwudiwe, one of the 1948 UK Tourists, bounce around gleefully at the inauguration of the Board of Trustees. Someone brought Hogan Bassey’s boxing gloves. Nothing concrete followed. Subsequent ministers have not had the will to complete what should be a place of pride for veterans.
Merenini also qualified as a referee. “I am still a certified referee but have scaled down,” he told me. It was through him that I knew that Andrew Uwe is a referee as well. Both were born in Lagos, speak impeccable Yoruba, attended St. Paul’s Primary School but belong to different generations.
In 1977, the Rangers quartet of Emeka Onyedika (Owusu), Sam Onyeaka (Achimota), Charles Adimorah (Wagner) and Merenini (Schoolboy International as nicknamed by Ernest Okonkwo) beat the Nigerian national 4×100 relay team in a friendly race at the National Stadium, Surulere.
Merenini was a 110 metres specialist for East Central State. Another good hurdler (400m) from the state, Nathaniel Obijiofor (Obijay ) also played soccer for Government Secondary School, Owerri. He was national champion in 1979 and won two medals at the African Athletics Championships, Dakar ’79. Both lost contact after 1976 but reconnected in the United States, recently.
There is the possibility that no records exist in Nigeria of how debutant, Merenini’s header found Johnny Egbuonu for Rangers first goal against Green Buffaloes in 1976. Many may not know that in the first leg which the Flying Antelopes lost 3-1 at away, his friend Anyafo, was capped for the first time, by the Coal City giants. We do not value History.
