By Buduzhi Egbe
AHOADA, Rivers State - Friends and political associates of the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman, Board of Directors of the South-South Development Commission, SSDC, Rt. Hon. Prince Chibudom Nwuche, on Wednesday, marked his 65th birthday with a novelty football match.
The match, held at the Government Primary School field, Ahoada, brought together members of the Ahoada East Rainbow Coalition, youths, political associates and well-wishers in a colourful celebration of unity.
The event was organised to honour Nwuche, the Esama I of Ekpeye land, who was described as a detribalised leader, grassroots politician and philanthropist whose contributions to Ekpeye land, Rivers State and Nigeria remain immense.
At the end of the entertaining encounter, Sheffield FC, Ahoada defeated Virgin Rose FC, Ahoada 1-0.
Speaking at the event, one of the organisers, Comr. Buduzhi Ogbugo, said the match was a token of appreciation for Nwuche's selfless service.
"Today we are not just playing football, we are celebrating 65 years of purposeful leadership, generosity and fatherly love. Rt. Hon. Prince Chibudom Nwuche is a man who has touched many lives, and this match is our little way of saying thank you," he said.
The celebration drew traditional rulers led by the Eze Upata, community leaders, women and youth groups who offered prayers for long life and greater accomplishments for the celebrant.
In his remarks, Nwuche, who is also a former President of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, decried the declining standard of sports in Nigeria, attributing it to nepotism, age falsification and poor leadership.
Recounting his experience as federation president under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Nwuche said he uncovered cases of sexual harassment of female athletes by coaches.
"My first meeting, I said I want to meet with athletes and the coaches. I shared my number with all of them and asked them to call me. They called me quietly in the night. Some said that coaches sleep with them before they go for tournaments abroad," he said.
"I asked them to send me the coaches' names. At the next meeting, I warned them that if they try it again, they will be arrested and prosecuted. There was one Coach Bassey, he was a culprit but he is dead now."
Nwuche said he subsequently dissolved the coaching crew, appointed Oshoba from Edo State as National Coach, and led the team to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, where Nigeria won silver through Mariam Usman of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kaduna.
He argued that Nigerian sports would excel if managed without nepotism and bias, lamenting the country's recent failure to qualify for major tournaments.
The former lawmaker also cited age cheating, narrating how his son, Victor Nwuche, who had been in a football academy in Spain since age five, was invited to the National U-20 camp in Katsina.
"When he got there, he called and said, 'Dad, I don't like here.' His roommate asked him his age, he said 18, and the roommate said he was too young, that he is 30 and has two children. The next day I told Victor to come back before they break his leg," Nwuche said.
He further criticised the appointment of individuals with no sports background as Ministers of Sports, urging the Federal Government to consider ex-internationals such as Austin 'Jay-Jay' Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu and Taribo West for the role.
Nwuche charged the players to play with love and unity, saying, "Play it as a game, don't fight, don't break legs and may God bless all of you."
As part of his birthday gesture, the celebrant announced a cash reward of N700,000 for the winning team and N300,000 for the losing side.