BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja
It was a day of glory in Abuja yesterday for the former Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Patrick Ekeji as sports stakeholders in the country who graced the occasion of the presentation of his book titled; Odyssey of a Green Eagle heaped praises on him for his efforts in the development of sports in Nigeria.

This is just as former Minister for Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih frowned at the penchant for some people in Nigerian football to run to court warning that such people must ensure that they don’t endanger the game which she noted has brought Nigerians together more than anything else.

She further advised those who are politicians to leave Nigerian football alone in the interest of the teeming youths who earn a living from the game as well as millions of citizens who derive joy each time the country was playing.

Dr Ekeji (l) with former team mate, Chief Segun Odegbami

Speaker after speaker recalled one thing or the other which Dr. Ekeji who was a one time national team player had done to add to the numerous achievements the country has recorded in sports.

Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Tammy Danagogo who was represented by his director general, Gbenga Elegbeleye said the former director general left a quality programme for the NSC to operate with.

“I want to acknowledge it here that Dr. Ekeji who incidentally handed over to me at the commission left a very robust and quality programme for us to implement and I also make bold to say that if we have the right funding to implement his blueprint, sports in Nigeria will be the better for it”.

Chairman of the occasion and former minister of sports, Engr. Sani Ndanusa said the writing of the book by the former director general is a clear testimony that he is a true professional who has demonstrated how top government functionaries are supposed to give back to the system after leaving office.

Ndanusa particularly recalled the tenacity with which Dr. Ekeji piloted the affairs of the Team Nigeria as the then director of sports development when the country hosted and won the 8th All African Games in 2003.

For Chief Jonathan Ogufere, former president of the West African Football Union (WAFU) the Odyssey of a Green Eagle is a very informative book which will go a long way in shaping the youths of today to the path of greatness.

He further revealed that having known Chief Ekeji for the past 40 years, their relationship has become that of a father and son to the extent he influenced the author to play for Vasco Dagama ahead of the famous Rangers International of Enugu.

In his own remarks, the author said he decided to put his experiences both as a player and an administrator together to show the youths of today especially footballers and other sports men and women that they too can achieve such heights if they were dedicated to their career.