IGHALO, IDEYE RELEVANT TO 2018 WORLD CUP HOPES – IRIKEFE By Akeem Busari.

The hopes of Nigeria taking part in the 2018 World Cup slated to hold in Russia, has been placed on the invitation and participation of experienced foreign based Nigerian footballers like Brown Ideye and Odion Ighalo.

Speaking during an exclusive interview, Kelvin Irikefe Okirikpo, a renown football manager, was upbeat about the chances of Nigeria qualifying for Russia 2018.

According to him, the football administrators should be proactive in their plans for the Super Eagles as it concerns the chances of the country qualifying for the World Cup.

“I am optimistic about the chances of the Super Eagles, qualifying for the World Cup in Russia, “Irikefe said.

“l also believe strongly too, that the team needs the invaluable experience of players like Brown Ideye and Odion Ighalo. These are tested and trusted footballers who are equally in good shape,” the football entrepreneur fondly called Don Kefe in the football community explained.

He however, acknowleged the array of young and talented footballers knocking fervently on the doors of the Super Eagles.

“It is a thing of joy and happiness that we are blessed with several young and talented footballers, also playing top level football across the world.

“I still think whoever is saddled with the job of handling the team, should understand that only a blend of experience and youth can take the team to its desired goals, “he advised.

Speaking further, he admonished all concerned stakeholders in Nigerian football to shealth their swords in the interest of the country and particularly, the future of Nigerian youth.

IDEYE EXPRESSES JOY AT BROWN IDEYE CHALLENGE SUCCESS

Sponsor of the Brown Ideye Challenge, Brown Ideye says the maiden edition of the competition has exceeded his expectations.

Speaking after the Final match at the weekend, Brown Ideye revealed that it gave him extreme pleasure watching the determination and happiness on the faces of the players and officials as they jostled for the trophy.

Ideye told the press that when the idea of the tournament was conceived he never expected such success at the maiden edition.

Brown Ideye Challenge Photo credit: Carl Orakwue ‏@pointmancarl

Seeing those boys play today it really touched me a lot because I have been through that road before and I know how it is.

I will say it is a thing of joy seeing them play and having fun.

When I had this plan with China Acheru about a year back, really I didn’t know it could be this successful. I am really happy about it.

The Super Eagles forward is of the opinion that more tournaments of this nature should be organized regularly to help groom talented players, many of which today are not given any opportunity.

Today I saw some wonderful players and I would say if we can have these tournaments regularly it would boost the boys’ morale and it would help them grow.

So I would say it is important to have a tournament like this every year.

Brown Ideye
photo credit: Олег Дубина
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Ideye went on to reveal that he planned to make the Brown Ideye Challenge a bi-annual event saying he would be open to sponsors and partners joining hands with him, to help lift football at the grassroots.

A&B Academy emerged champions of the maiden edition of the Brown Ideye Challenge after they beat Garden City Panthers 2:1 in a thrilling final played at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Complex.

Garden City Academy of Sports finished in third place after emerging victorious over Academy Football SKE whom they beat by a lone goal to win the loser’s final.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN HONOR TO PLAY FOR YOBO – IDEYE #YOBOTestimonial

Super Eagles and Olympiakos of Greece Forward Brown Ideye says it would have been a great honor for him to be part of the Joseph Yobo testimonial scheduled for the 27th of May in Port Harcourt.

Ideye who is currently on holidays with his family in Port Harcourt revealed he had made enquiries about the game before he found out he was going to be part of the Super Eagles friendly games scheduled for the same period.

The Super Eagles are billed to take on Mali on May 27 and then Luxembourg on the 31st of May and Ideye has been penciled down by caretaker Eagles manager Salisu Yusuf as one of the players to prosecute the ties.

I really wanted to play. I had called and made enquiries last month concerning this particular game (Yobo Testimonial) because I didn’t know I would be invited to the national team.

I was like let me come home with my family play the game then go to the states for holidays with my family but I got called up.

Ideye who won the African Nations Cup with the Super Eagles along sides Yobo in 2013, is full of nothing but praise for the former Eagles captain whom he says always acted with concern towards his fellow players and wished the national assignment didn’t coincide with an opportunity to honour his former captain.

Brown Ideye
photo credit: Олег Дубина
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I was really looking forward to the game, to play for him because I played under him and he is a very good guy and it would have been a great honor to support him.

Yobo became the first Nigerian Male Footballer to get a 100 caps when he captained the Super Eagles in a World Cup game against France at the FIFA World Cup on June 30 2014.

The Nigeria Football Federation has however released current Eagles captain John Obi Mikel and his Vice, Ahmed Musa to honor the testimonial game.

Victor Ezeji supports Brown Ideye Challenge

Nigerian League legend, Victor Ezeji will support Greece based striker, Brown Ideye’s football tournament, The Brown Ideye Challenge.

Late on Tuesday afternoon, Ezeji, speaking to the chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the competition, China Acheru signified his desire to support what Ideye is doing for the youth of Rivers State.

“I read about it via social media and I must say I am impressed at what he is doing,” Ezeji said.

“It’s a noble venture and though I must say, he is not the only foreign based footballer to do it, but we must still give him credit because he has remembered his start to greatness in football and who knows how many players from this tournament will end up as big stars in the future?

Victor Ezeji supports Brown Ideye Challenge

“I will support whatever Brown Ideye is doing in whatever way I can and I will be there for the opening match as well and any other game I can watch leading to the final,” Ezeji promised.

The Brown Ideye Challenge is a football tournament that starts on the 4th of May and will run for one month.

It will be competed for amongst sixteen teams and registration began on Saturday, April 23 and closes on Saturday, April 30.

The draws come up on Monday, May 2 with the opening match to be played two days later.

Sixteen teams will be divided into four groups two from each group will qualify for the first knock out round.

Port Harcourt Set For Brown Ideye Challenge

Port Harcourt will host the first ever edition of a thirty two team football tournament, christened The Brown Ideye Challenge.

Olympiakos striker, Brown Ideye has decided to keep the youth of Port Harcourt and its environs busy by putting his resources to sponsor the one month fiesta.

“It’s something I have planned to do for some time and I believe the youth of Port Harcourt will greatly benefit from this chance to showcase their talent to the world,” Ideye said.

“A lot of people want to play football but do not get the chance to do it at any level whatsoever, so I believe this will be one opportunity for them to shine.”

Secretary of the Local Organising Committee of the event, Sanipe Damiete Tonte revealed that after discussing with Ideye, the tournament will open registration on Saturday, April 23, 2016 and will close one week later.

“We have been planning this tournament since December last year and we always had it in mind that it will hold at this time.

Brown Ideye
photo credit: Олег Дубина
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“We propose that the event kicks off on Wednesday, May 2 with the final match before the end of the month of May with Brown Ideye himself present on the day,” Damiete said.

“Already we have received a lot of messages and calls from Football Clubs in Port Harcourt on their intention to be part of it so we know there will be a rush to pick up forms. One week will be enough for registration for the tournament.”

Brown Ideye started his football career with Ocean Boys FC, then moved to Nuechatel Xamax, Sochaux, Dinamo Kiev and then West Bromich Albion.