My favorite local football team.

My favorite local football team

At some point, I posted on sportstalk social but later stopped. I am a die-hard Manchester United fan. I started supporting them since 2001. I didn't know much about soccer then, but I follow my uncles to watch in ball house, and I support whoever they find pleasure with. When they are shouting goal, I rise and shout with them. When they are sad because Manchester united got defeated, I also feel sad.

Their action controlled my emotions easily. What do I know then? I was just a little girl about 6 or 7 years. I remembered that most of the time we go to watch soccer, we are often happy because Manchester United was hot like fire. They hardly lose at home and away.

As of this time, there was no televising of our local leagues and the participation was less, so only a few people follow the local leagues. However, I found one local club that captured my heart.

History of Enyimba football club

Enyimba football club was founded in 1976 by Jerry Amadi when Imo State has not been divided. The club remained under Jerry's possession until 1991 when Imos State was divided and Abia State emerged. Enyimba became the property of the state government as they took over from Jerry.

Enyimba was nowhere to be found in the Nigerian league since it's inception until the professional league was inaugurated in 1990. They played in the professional league, but their performance wasn't cool, which later lead to their relegation. They remained in the second national division for two years before they were promoted back in 1993.

Their promotion marked the beginning of their success in the Nigerian league. For the first time in their history, they finished third in the league in 1994, but their rise to prominence began in 1999 when Nigeria embraced democracy.

The elected governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu started financing the club by meeting all their needs. They nabbed their Nigerian Championship title in 2001 under coach Godwin Koko Uwa defeating Dolphin by 2 goals to nothing.

The people's elephant (Enyimba) started trending. After the trophy, they were invited to play an international match with inter Milan to mark the return of Ronaldo De lima from along time injury of almost two years. The match ended 7-0 against Enyimba, but they had fun playing against international players.

Why I followed the team I choose as my favorite.

I got to like the Nigerian league when Eyinba of Aba won the CAF Champions league in 2003 where they defeated Ismaily of Egypt by 2 goals to nil in the second leg game. I loved soccer right from my tender age due to the influence of my uncles. It's easy to influence kids with many things. That's why it's important to allow kids to stay in good company and not associate with bad people.

If my uncles were corrupt, they would have easily influenced me, because I spend most of my time with them. They teach me my assignments when I'm back from School. They take me out to many places to visit their friends and so on. I was in their care. Not that my parents don't have time to take care of me, but my uncles also live with us, so the stress was off my parent's neck. They are always happy seeing us together. The love was unique.

After the first Champions league, I started watching Eyimba matches on TV. Their matches were occasionally shown on the local TV stations. The team dominated the Nigerian league for a long time before things started taking a new turn. No one can stay at the top forever. The time will come that others will overtake and prove their activeness too. The love I still have for the club is burning like fire. I won't stop until I'm tired, and will I be?

What makes Eyimbs FC Special to me?

Gov Orgi Uzor Kalu, Issa Ayatu (former NFF chairman) and Dele Aiyenugba celebrating Enyimba CAF Champions league victory in 2003.

The Enyimba football club of Aba is very much special in many ways. They are the first football club I know in Nigeria. You know the feelings of first love in a relationship, that's how I feel about the club. Apart from that, many players from the club made it to the Super Eagles squad.

They are the first club to make Nigeria proud in African football history. Do I need to start counting how many times they've lifted the Nigerian premier league? When we talk about football in Nigeria, the first club that comes to my mind is Enyimba. They are very special to me as far as football is concerned in my country.

These is the Enyimba recent squad

Manager

Usman Abdallah

Goalkeeper

Friday Achimugwu, Theophilus Afelokhai

Defenders

Olufemi Kayode, Abiodun Adebayo
Emmanuel Ampiah, Ifeanyi Anaemena Emmanuel James, Igho James, Nelson Ogbonnaya, Stanley Okorom, Austin Opara
Gabriel Orok, Danladi Timothy

Midfielder

Emeka Atuloma, Jean Marie Guéra, Farouk Mohamed, Augustine Oladapo, Dare Olatunji, Cyril Olisemah, Chukwuka Onuwa, Darkwah

Striker

John Agu, Wasiu Alalade, Reuben Bala
Abdulrahman Bashir, Chekwube Chukwude
Stanley Dimgba, Victor Mbaoma, Samson Obi
Freedom Omofoman, Joseph Osadiaye
Chinedu Udeagha, Martins Usule

How long have I supported the club?

I think I have a precise and accurate time. It was in 2003 when they won the first-ever CAF Champions league. That victory was too important to forget. Maybe I need to do the match analysis as far as I can remember.

@beatychicks running commentary.

Read like a commentator to get the vibes

And the match between the Enyimba football club of Aba just started. I'm @beautychick commenting on the @steemitblog contest talking about the match between my favorite club in Nigeria VS Ismaily of Egypt that took place in 2003.

Can the Nigerian side take the victory today? They've been coordinated and playing good football from the beginning of the league but lost the first leg to Ismaily of Egypt by 1 goal to nothing. Can they successfully face the mighty Ismaily of Egypt who already had 4 records of Champions league victory? Well, let's see what the Nigerian side has to offer.

And it's Ndidi Anumnu with the ball, going going, he passed to Muri Ogunbiyi, what can he do with the ball? the Ismaily players are very coordinated, he managed to locate Ndidi on the flank. Can he beat the defense? oh! he goes out with a superb cross, and it is a goallllll!!!
This is captivating. Nice header by Emeka Nwanna.

Enyimba 1 Ismaily 0. It is 1 - 1 on aggregate. The second half begins. And Ndidi Anumnu got the ball, oh! This is a clear chance. Gooooallllll!!!!!. Enyimba 2 Ismaily 0. The ref blows the final whistle. End of game. Enyimba wins the African Champions League for the first time.

I hope my commentary is nice. Lol

That game marked the good performance of the club in the African champions league. They defended the trophy the following year, making it the second time they lift the cup.

Trophies

Trophy	Times	Years
Nigeria premiere league	8	2001,2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2015, 2019.
Nigerian FA Cup	4	2005, 2009, 2013, 2014
National second devision	1	1993
Nigerian suoer cup	4	2001, 2003, 2010, 2013
CAF Champions league	2	2003, 2004
CAF Super cup	2	2004, 2005.

Where they play

Enyimba is not situated in the state where I reside, which makes it very difficult to watch their live matches. However, I was opportune to see two of their games one in Ilorin and the other at Lagos. I watched their match against Kwara United at the Kwara State Stadium in 2015 where they defeated Kwara United 3 - 2.
Most time, I watch them on TV. They have superb players that are doing a great job in the team.

Enyimba football club has been my favorite from the beginning. Who can take their place?

Thank you for reading my blog.
All images from google.com and pixabay