Pius Ayinor
Not every individual from the top professional sports circuit remembers the community that they emerged from. Some even disconnect completely from their immediate families, but some never forget the place of their first steps.
Ex-Super Eagles attacker and a former African Footballer of the Year (1997), Victor Ikpeba, is one of those who have a place in their hearts to make society and communities better than they met them. And he is doing this through the annual Victor Ikpeba Football Challenge.
The Prince of Monaco, as he is fondly called, is reaching out to the Delta and Lagos State communities – two states that played roles in his football career as a teenager.
When he was looking for a community to help in the Lagos area, he settled for the Fujah community in Surulere with the help of the late journalist, Dapo Sotuminu. Since the first edition was held five years ago, the people in that zone have kept June 12 free – the day the competition is held. And they have good stories to tell about the competition.
Godfrey Aluede was born and bred in the community and has been a part of the growth.
He says, “Since its inception in 2021, the Victor Ikpeba Challenge has galvanised the Obele Odan community from just a quiet suburb in Surulere to a bubbling one through sports. The exposure granted the youths by Ikpeba and his friends through the annual sporting event can never be overemphasised. The community looks forward to meeting with their footballing heroes every year to showcase their talents as they, too, hope to make it to the big stage one day.”
June 12 is a remarkable political date in Nigeria, but it is also the birthday of the former Monaco star.
“Yes, it’s my birthday, but you can see that everyone is happy. That is what happens. There is no better way to honour a community than this. This is what gives me joy. God has blessed me through football, and I desire to touch many lives also through football. You can never estimate what a competition like this can do for these young ones watching on the side. We watched events like this, saw a few celebrities play and got inspired.
“This is the aim: to get these young ones inspired and even the entire community to grow.”
Talking about growth. Ikpeba has had to do a facelift at the playground every year for the event to be able to hold. He has been able to make the community hold their elected leaders to account for their jobs. The people have seen this need and have been reaching out to a representative in the Lagos House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot, to do something about developing a proper facility for the Fujah Community in the Obele Odan area of Surulere.
The ex-Nigeria international started the programme with his resources and added another bigger football event in Warri, Delta State, the same year. Another event may also be staged around the FESTAC Community in Lagos this year in order to give more Nigerians opportunities. After the initial years, Bet9ja Foundation got interested, verified and became partners of the Victor Ikpeba Football Challenge.
“This is exactly what we are built for,” Ada Cuomo, the Executive Director of the Bet9ja Foundation, explains of their involvement.
“We look out for young talents and community events like this so that we can help young talents grow. It is not just about their development, but we want to see them happy and enjoying what they are doing. This programme is exciting and you can everyone is excited and having fun. This is what we want to see in communities.”
Chikelue Iloenyosi is the Chairman of the Anambra State Football Association and has rightly associated himself with the Ikpeba Football projects.
“I am a person who supports anything football in Nigeria, especially grassroots developmental programmes like this. And that is why I am backing fully my brother and friend Victor Ikpeba. We all love programmes like this,” Chikelue, a former Super Eagles player, says.
Victor Boniface’s agent, Atta Aneke, adds his voice.
“You can never tell which talent can be discovered from a platform like and that is why we should encourage programmes like this.”
Your community could be the next, Ikpeba hopes.
Extrasportnigeria 
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