The contributions of late proprietor of Iwuanyanwu Nationale FC, Chief  Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has never been fully recorded. In this report, ace sports writer, Ori Martins narrates that Iwuanyanwu offered Nigerian youths an unforgettable experience as players in the team



Late Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu 


Just like Ubanwa Jonathan, Sam Anozie was one of the players that played for both Spartans and Iwuanyanwu Nationale. Anozie who missed the 1985 Flying Eagles team for the FIFA U-20 World Cup Finals by whiskers, was a formidable defender. 


He was Nationale captain and injury forced him to an early retirement, he emerged the secretary of the team, eventually. 



In a tribute to the late proprietor of Nationale, Chief (Engr) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Anozie made it clear that the Iwuanyanwu  experience

was an everlasting memory. We thank God and we commend Iwuanyanwu. 


"To begin with, Chief Iwuanyanwu, on the advice of Prince Lemmy Akakem who was the chairman, and Sir Uche Ejimofor the team manager who later became the general manager, got one of the best coaches in the country then, Willy Bazuaye", Anozie opened up. 


He added, " Furthermore, Iwuanyanwu sent us to Brazil on a tour of more than one month. It was another fantastic experience. And let me not forget, Iwuanyanwu Nationale were made up some of the local players drawn from Sharks of Port Harcourt now Rivers United, Rangers, ACB of Lagos, New Nigeria Bank of Benin, Rovers of Calabar, and so on".


Anozie who is a scion of Owerri Nchise said Iwuanyanwu Nationale's first season was in 1986 and were nicknamed Naze Warriors/ Naze Millionaires (because Iwuanyanwu developed a camp for the team in Naze just as the players were counting in millions. 


The erstwhile timeless defender revealed that Iwuanyanwu instantly became a brand and a nightmare to all other clubs. "Nationale were an attractive brand as well as the agony of many other teams in the Premier League. On the basis of that we finished second on the table. That gave us the ticket to represent Nigeria in the WAFU competition the following year - 1987. 


"The 1988 season was very memorable in many respects. It was our year of CAF Champions League outing and we played to the final, losing gallantly to Setif of Algeria in a most dubious fashion. Again, on our game against Tonnere Kalala of Cameroon, there was a dangerous player known as George Weah of Liberia. In spite defeating Kalala 2- 0 in Owerri, our Greece coach, Teophanis Dimitris, turned to Akakem and said: 'That boy, Weah, dangerous'. We heard him but never took him seriously. 


"In Cameroon, Weah canceled the two goals in quick succession but the tie ended 3 - 2 and we qualified. Then, there was the Ivory Coast chammenge. After seeing off Asec Mimosa in Owerri, 2-0, we were confident it was going to be an easy ride to the next round, but Dimitris had other thoughts. 


"To everyone's shock, Dimitris had suddenly converted Law Ukegbu into the right back position. It caused commotion in the dressing- room. Akakem shouted while Ejimofor kicked. But Dimitris stood his ground with a threat to wit: 'No Law at right back, I stay here, you (pointing at Akakem and Ejimofor) take team to stadium'. Both men, in anger, allowed the foreign technical adviser to have his way. 


"Within 15 minutes of the game all of us realized why Dimitris converted Ukegbu to the right back position. The Asec Mimosa lead striker was a brutal air express! In more four attempts, it was Ukegbu that headed out of danger, in what was obviously goal bound balls. It was after the encounter that Dimitris stood carried his head high. We won. 


"Let me tell you another story that is very interesting. Mike Obi was an attacker. Dimitris converted him to the left back position. It was amazing that from that position Obi was the second highest goal scorer. Had Dimitris also converted Benjamin Nzeako to a midfielder, he might have been the greatest footballer the Nigerian league has ever produced. All the football skills of Zidane, Okocha, Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi were displayed by Nzeako. 


"I must confess that Chief Iwuanyanwu used football to empower youths across the country. He loved us and worked to keep him happy. We were crowned Premier League champions five times in 1987 (formerly Leventis but the club defunct after winning the title and we took over the winning slot), 1988, '89, 90, and 1993. 


"We also won the Federation Cup in 1988. It was also in 1988 that we almost finished the season. We lost only one game - we lost against Ranchers Bees. It was Ayo Ogunalana's free kick and Edward Ansah was caught napping. And I cannot forget the 1994 plane crash. May their souls continue to rest in peace.