Daily Independent Online.
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Wednesday, July 07, 2004.
FA Cup promises to unearth more stars
Stories by Emeka
Nwani
Senior
Correspondent, Lagos
Before the
commencement of an organised league in 1979, the FA Cup was undoubtedly the
most prestigious competition in the country. It had more publicity than the old
“Super League” and the final was always well attended.
However, the
importance of the competition gradually started fading with fans unable to watch the top teams week
after week. The status of the knock-out event further diminished with the
ever-increasing drift of the top stars from the domestic scene to Europe.
The average
Nigerian fan would rather watch a top match in Europe if it is being played
simultaneously with the FA Cup final. These days, the finals are sparsely attended, and it is hard to fault
those who say the competition has lost its glamour.
It is however hoped
the innovations that have been introduced by sponsors Coca-Cola recently, like
the spectacular arrival of the trophy via helicopter, and cash awards for
virtually all categories of participants, could bring back the
much-needed excitement to Nigeria’s oldest soccer competition.
The 60th
anniversary of the FA Cup will be celebrated next year, and like it is
elsewhere in the world, it has provided its thrills and unpredictable moments
over this period. At the start in 1945 when it was known as the
Governor’s Cup, Lagos - based clubs dominated, winning eight of the
first ten editions.
When it was renamed
the FA Cup in 1955, teams from Port Harcourt and Ibadan began to challenge the
Lagos teams , and by independence
in 1960, the competition was dominated solely by teams from these cities. It
became more open after the civil war, with the emergence of Enugu Rangers, who
won consecutively between 1974 and 1976. They added two more triumphs in 1981
and 1983, but are still third on the all-time winners list behind Lagos
Railways (seven) and Shooting Stars, who have won seven times (including
victories of Ibadan Lions and WNDC).
New generation
clubs, such as Leventis United and Abiola Babes, dominated the early to
mid-eighties, but their surprise disbandment coincided with emergence of coach
Shaibu Amodu.
Amodu developed
into an FA Cup expert, winning four out of six attempts in spells with BCC
Lions and El Kanemi Warriors between 1989 and 1994. BCC`s win in 1989 also
ended an enduring 35 year wait for the trophy to go back to the north since
Kano won in 1953. The northern teams have since rediscovered their form to win
nine of the next fourteen - Plateau United (1999), Tornadoes (2000) and Lobi
Stars(2002) all beating strong opposition from the east.
Already, there have
been shocks results in the first round this season, Kwara United did not
necessarily outclass, but certainly out played Enyimba in Lagos.
Lobi Stars also
upset league leaders Iwuanyanwu 2-0 in Calabar, while Rangers struggled to get
past Wikki Tourist on penalties. The excitement and unpredictability has thus
started and could only get better.
