International Football encyclopedia, Ejikeme Ikwunze, Mr Football adds one year today

By Daniel Maduagwu, Umuahia

The encyclopedia of Football, Ejikeme Ikwunze, better known as Mr. Football has added another purposeful and fruitful year today.

Ikwunze, special gift from God to mankind and the world of Sports, especially the round leather, is a man with vast and untrammeled statistical knowledge of Football, footballers, organizations, founders, Coaches, and in general, the leadership and management dynamics of Football.

He is a man who through his rich, impeccable and professional publications, has been telling the world about the contributions of football to the development of the globe and the positive impact football has made on the people and the nations.

Mr Football has also been chronicling the successes and vicissitudes encountered by some great players, managers and football organizations.

He is a man whose prose dexterity enthralls the reader of his works.

An astute administrator who has held plum positions in sports administration in Abia State, of note is that he was the Director of Sports in Abia State under whose leadership Enyimba International Football Club of Aba did break the jink in African Football, by winning CAF Champions League back-to-back .

Under Ejikeme Ikwunze, Abia State Sports Council he headed recorded wonderful achievements in different sporting events and also discovered a lot of future talents for Abia State, Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.

In 1992, Mr. Football, from his home in Umuawa-Alaocha, Ohuhu Umuahia North LGA of Abia State, wrote to FIFA to correct a statistical mistake in FIFA Magazine. FIFA was so impressed by his extensive knowledge of the game that for over 33 years, they have kept him on their mailing list, providing him with exclusive materials from the world football governing body to this day.

Mr. Football is the first Nigerian to write a 520-page book on the World Cup, tracing its history from the competition’s inception. His book, published in the United States, has become a reference material in the renowned library in Zurich, Switzerland.

A community leader like no other, the developer of the upcoming talents and the teacher who produced many young men and women, who are now champions and masters in their chosen endeavors.

I am one of those who enjoyed your milik of kindness.

Mr. Football is indeed a living sports icon that deserves every accolade that comes with his Birthday.

For Abia State Government and various sporting organizations in the country, there is need to one again recognize the contributions of this great son of the State and the rich knowledge he possess.

As you celebrate another birthday today, I wish you many more years of good health.

Happy Birthday, Sir!

Daniel Maduagwu writes from Umuahia