The main bowl of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere Lagos will on Saturday, September 3 be the “place to be” as Lagosians troop out in their thousands to be part of a football extravaganza the like of which has never been seen. The main gladiators on the field of play on that day will be the topmost stars of Nigerian music who will wrestle for the Godswill Akpabio trophy in a  battle against the superstars of Nollywood.

The football match of the Stars, as it has been dubbed, is slated to kick off the grand activities for the burial of the music icon and nation’s foremost Lady of Songs, Christy Essien Igbokwe MFR who died on June 30 in Lagos. Already, the two sides have named their captains for the big battle.

The movie stars have gone for no other than Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) President, Segun Arinze, the black arrow! On the other side, the musicians have chosen toaster and dance hall crooner, Baba Dee to lead them to victory. Reliable information indicates that the teams have started strategizing, plotting and secretly practicing. While the teams plot, their cheer leading ensembles sharpen their tricks. Reliable information also says that silver screen beauty, Stella Damasus Nzeribe is cooking up cheer-leading strategies for one of the teams while Elegant Stalion, Onyeka Onwenu polishes the tricks for the other.

Before the Football Match of the Stars, members of the pen profession will battle it out. For the Austin Izagbo trophy, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) will lock horns with top Entertainment Journalists. Dr. Austin Izagbo, a former Delta State commissioner for Youth, Sports & Culture who donated the trophy is the Chairman of the Christy Essien-Igbokwe National Burial Committee.

President, Akwa Ibom Community in Lagos State, Rev. Richard Johnson, has requested indigenes and friends of Akwa Ibom State from every part of Lagos and beyond to storm the Teslim Balogun Stadium en mass on September 3 which has been named by the Burial Committee as “Akwa Ibom Day”.

According to him, All Akwa Ibomites are called upon to join in the celebration of the life of their special daughter and cultural ambassador awarded the title of Adiaha (the most priced daughter). Rev. Johnson has promised that the unique fashion, music and dance of the people of Akwa Ibom State will be on full display at the Football Match of the Stars which will be broadcast to the world by Super Sports. Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio is expected to kick off the match.

Explaining the reason for the grand plans to celebrate the late Lady of Songs, Dr. Izagbo said, “In this celebration of the life of Christy Essien Igbokwe, we celebrate every creative person in Nigeria. We celebrate every Nigerian woman who has sought to actualize herself from humble beginnings. We wish to inspire every Nigerian woman to be the best that she can be. We wish to inspire young people who seek careers in the arts and assure them that they can themselves become great and be celebrated.  We have also been inspired by the outpouring of emotions since her death.”