Soccer Greatness at Saint Finbarr’s College (Volume Ii):: Legacy of All-Around Sports

By Deji Badiru

This is a continuation of the several previous “legacy” books about Saint Finbarr’s College, Lagos, Nigeria. It is a book of historical legacy of the school, with a long-term reputation for academic excellence, student discipline, and soccer superiority. The focus of this book is to salute, recognize, and celebrate the special group of Students, the athletes, particularly the soccer players. Much has been written about the accomplishments of other groups of ex-Finbarrians, but nothing has been written collectively about the soccer players. It is a book targeting the alumni of the school to bring appropriate glory and recognition to the soccer players of the school, many of whom have gone on to play for the Nigerian National Team as well as play professionally around the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jun 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9781663253736

Deji Badiru

Deji Badiru is a Professor of Systems Engineering in Dayton, Ohio. He is a registered professional engineer and a fellow of the Institute of Industrial Engineers as well as a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering. He has a BS degree in Industrial Engineering, MS in Mathematics, and MS in Industrial Engineering from Tennessee Technological University, and Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida. He is the author of several books and technical journal articles.

Book preview

Contents

Author’s Bio

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1All-Around Sport Legacy of Saint Finbarr’s College

Chapter 2Finbarr’s Testimony By Paul Okoku

Chapter 3Finbarr’s Testimony By Nathaniel Ogedegbe

Chapter 4Finbarr’s Testimony By Emeka James

Chapter 5Finbarr’s Testimony of Amaechi Nwogu

Chapter 6Finbarr’s Testimony of Ibraimoh Yekini

Chapter 7Where And How It All Started

Chapter 8My Own Sports, Academics, and Discipline at Finbarr’s

Chapter 9Intermingling of Sports and Academics at Finbarr’s

Chapter 10The Story of Steven Keshi of Saint Finbarr’s College

Chapter 11Soccer Greatness of Chris Oyobio of Saint Finbarr’s College

Chapter 12Collection of General Testimonials By Ex-Finbarrians

Chapter 13Memorial Tribute to Bernard Senaya of Senaya of Saint Finbarr’s College

Chapter 14The Man Raymond King

Chapter 15Joe Igbokwe’s Tribute to Father Slattery and Saint Finbarr’s College

Chapter 16Albert Ngene’s Article on Nigeria’s National Sport

Chapter 17Soccer Songs of Saint Finbarr’s College

Author’s Bio

Deji Badiru is a Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering. He is a registered Professional Engineer, a certified Project Management Professional, a Fellow of the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers, a Fellow of the Industrial Engineering and Operations Management Society, and a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering. His academic background consists of BS in Industrial Engineering, MS in Mathematics, and MS in Industrial Engineering and Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering. His areas of interest include mathematical modeling, systems engineering modeling, computer simulation, and productivity analysis. He is a prolific author and a member of several professional associations and scholastic honor societies. Deji holds a US Trademark for DEJI Systems Model for Design, Evaluation, Justification, and Integration.

Dedication

Dedicated to the memory of all the dearly departed ex-Finbarrians, who have followed Reverend Father Denis J. Slattery to sit in the bosom of the Lord.

Acknowledgements

Once again, I greatly appreciate and acknowledge the consistent spirit of Fidelitas that exists among all Finbarrians. Following the other books that I have written about Saint Finbarr’s College, my Finbarr’s brothers, once again, came out to support this latest project. Mr. Paul Okoku, true to form, again contributed handsomely to this compilation. I thank him for his perseverance and dedication to the cause of Finbarr’s. Once again, I thank the good fortune that first made my path to cross the path of Saint Finbarr’s College in 1968.

CHAPTER

1

All-Around Sport Legacy

of Saint Finbarr’s College

"At Finbarr’s, we play what we learn,

we learn what we play."

– Deji Badiru

Why do we need another book on Saint Finbarr’s College? Another book is needed because the story of Saint Finbarr’s College never ends. The story keeps growing as new gems of information are uncovered and must be documented for posterity. Saint Finbarr’s College is known for educating scores and scores of marvelous all-around athletes, technical professionals, educators, scientists, entrepreneurs, political leaders, artists, performers, writers, actors, manufacturers, builders, military leaders, and physicians. This is a great contribution to the world at large, as many successful graduates of Finbarr’s can be found all over the world.

After the 2023 publication of the first volume of my sports-themed book on Saint Finbarr’s College, it quickly became obvious that several gaps were left unfilled in that first volume. Thus, it became necessary to write a second volume, which is, hereby, tendered and rendered to the enjoyment of the general Finbarr’s community. Several elements from the first volume are, by necessity, repeated in this second volume. This is by design, not by duplication. Several aspects of the glory of Saint Finbarr’s College are worthy of repeating everywhere there is an opportunity. This book is not an exception. The continuity of the story of Saint Finbarr’s College must be preserved through repeated storytelling. In that regard, Volume II is a continuation and extension of the contents of Volume I. Some of the contents of Volume I are, by necessity, also included in Volume II.

May the thrills of Saint Finbarr’s

College never die.

Of particular focus in this second volume is the inclusion of new testimonies from additional ex-Finbarrians, namely, Emeka James, Amaechi Nwogu, and Yekini Ibraimoh. Paul Okoku contributed additional materials to this second volume. Although much has been said and written about the soccer prowess of Saint Finbarr’s College over the years, more recent awareness has been drawn to the diversity of sports excellence at Finbarr’s. Notable among the diverse accomplishments are Finbarr’s accolades in basketball, tracks, and tennis. Research is ongoing to collate all those other sports recognitions of Saint Finbarr’s College. There is even a report of the Finbarr’s team winning the 1979 Lagos State Basketball Championship at Rowe Park, Lagos.

Reflections from Volume I

All the good and exciting stories of the 2022 World Cup gave me the incentive and momentum for completing the manuscript for Volume I. The manuscript was written in August 2019 during the North America alumni reunion of Saint Finbarr’s College in Dayton, Ohio. As the local host of the reunion, I announced my intention to write such a book and I invited our old Boys to provide inputs and suggestions. The former soccer players of Finbarr’s were particularly encouraged to provide details of their Finbarr’s soccer exploits that could be recognized and celebrated in the book. Paul Okoku, an extraordinary player at Finbarr’s, was the first to answer the call. He remained committed and supportive throughout the manuscript-development project. In fact, his commitment to seeing the book completed added to the motivation for me to deliver on my 2019 promise.

The final drive to complete and publish Volume I was the untimely death of Bernard Senaya (July 12, 1950 – December 5, 2022), a Finbarr’s soccer maestro in his days at the school. He attended the reunion in Dayton, Ohio and had pledged his support for the book. In fact, in our follow-up conversation about the project, he agreed to be interviewed for contents of his Finbarr’s story to be included in the book. We both procrastinated on scheduling the one-on-one interview. His unexpected death before we could do the interview confirmed the adage that Do today what you can do today. Do not procrastinate until tomorrow. Thus, I embarked on finishing the manuscript the very day that I heard of Bernard’s eternal departure. May his soul rest in perfect peace. I was happy and proud that the Saint Finbarr’s College Old Boys Association (SFCOBA) held a celebration of life in honor of Bernard Senaya at the Finbarr’s school campus on December 22nd,2022. The Finbarr’s campus funeral event was extraordinarily organized, orchestrated, and executed. It was attended by the present and past presidents of SFCOBA, namely Patrick Doyle, Yinka Bashorun, and Segun Ajanlekoko. They, as well as others, presented rousing accounts and tributes in honor of Bernard. The glowing tribute written by John Senaya, Bernard’s younger brother, is provided in the appendix of this book. The tribute not only profiled Bernard’s life, but also highlighted how Saint Finbarr’s College prepared him for his life of exemplary service. In Bernard’s honor, the soccer ball, like a specter of office, featured prominently throughout the program. Befittingly, it was even placed on the casket in Bernard’s final journey. During his own talk, Segun Ajanlekoko referred to Saint Finbarr’s College as the "Citadel of Learning," which aptly confirms the premise of this book.

There is no school comparable to Saint Finbarr’s College. All the Boys of Finbarr’s proclaim or boast. It turns out that this is not just an empty boast, but an accurate proclamation. So much so that an old Boy of Finbarr’s, Nathaniel Ogedegbe, rightfully affirmed that Finbarr’s is The best high school above all high schools on the planet. Those who have experienced Finbarr’s firsthand or through its diverse impacts can joyfully confirm this statement. In this book, I will explain why this statement is true and why all Boys of Finbarr’s abide by this exalted expectation. Casual observers may snicker about this claim; however, a direct observation will make believers out of naysayers. An analogy from the sales and marketing industry claims a view will convince you. It is a documented fact that graduates of the school have made remarkable impacts in various sectors of society; ranging from sports, medicine, business, academia, industry, government, the military, and politics. I am appreciative that my Finbarr’s colleagues recognized me with the Distinguished Conqueror (DC) award in 1998. This is a recognition that I greatly value. My DC plaque, shown below, has occupied a special display in my home since it was received.

While there is much to write about the diverse accomplishments of ex-Finbarrians (aka Old Boys, Conquerors), the purpose of this present book is to salute, recognize, and celebrate the special group of Finbarr’s Students, the soccer players (the footballers, if we wish to subscribe to the British moniker). Much has been written about the accomplishments of other groups of ex-Finbarrians, but nothing has been written collectively about our footballers. This book represents the first crack in that glass ceiling.

Foundational Legacy of Saint Finbarr’s College

The premise and theme advanced by this book form the unique trifecta of expectations at Saint Finbarr’s College:

•Academics

•Discipline

•Sports (Specifically, Soccer)

ACADEMICS

This is the triple helix structure established by the school’s founder, Reverend Father Denis J. Slattery in 1956. This proud structure of expectation still exists today. It has been sustained and preserved by the school’s administrators who succeeded Father Slattery and the students who are proud to continue to espouse Finbarr’s ADS (Academics, Discipline, and Sports). We can even venture to opine that Finbarr’s ADS adds much to each student’s life. The nexus of excellence that is deeply rooted at Finbarr’s is depicted in the graphic below.

I was fortunate to have been taught by Father Slattery himself in 1968-1970. He taught Religious Studies. His teaching style was replete with storytelling both from the Bible and from real-life social settings. He came into class nonchalantly without any notes, chalk, or folders. He sat at the edge of the instructor’s desk and embarked upon stories in ways that captured the student’s attention with the compelling message that facilitated acquisition and retention of knowledge. I clearly recall my classroom interactions with him with respect to two specific topics that I have never forgotten: The Immaculate Conception and The Prodigal Son. The way he told the stories (i.e., lectures) made students want to hear more. If he caught a student not paying rapt attention to his lectures, he unleashed his wrath onto the whole class. He’d shout, jump, and gesticulate while praying for a better future for all his Finbarr’s students. He pumped up his diminutive frame as if puffing up to engage a student in a physical fight. He was a remarkable attention-grabber, and of course he grabbed mine. I never forgot any of his lectures. I credited his style to my success in the WAEC (West African Examination Council) external exam in 1972, even though I was not particularly interested in religious studies in those days. In preparation for the external examination, I recalled all of Father Slattery’s classroom stories without resorting to any additional readings. One story was the biblical story of the Prodigal Son. The way Father Slattery recounted the story, it would be hard for anyone to forget it:

"In the gospel of Luke, Jesus tells the well-known parable of the prodigal son. A son asks his father for his inheritance, then squanders it recklessly as he lives a life of indulgence. With nothing left of his fortune, he is forced to work as a hired hand for a pig farmer"

With this kind of superior classroom performance, Father Slattery contributed directly to the academic legacy of Saint Finbarr’s College. Thus, Academics, Discipline, and Sports took an indelible root at the school, and they can still be observed in the present day. Father Slattery told Biblical stories (i.e., class lectures) as if he was there in person and he put the intended lessons in the context of what he expected his students to achieve in life as upright citizens. He used his bully pulpit effectively in ways that one can hardly forget the lessons he imparted. I gained several lifelong academic benefits from Saint Finbarr’s College.

A photo of my Finbarr’s Class IIIA in 1970 is shown below. Although some of those in the photo are dearly departed, many of us have remained in close contact and reside in different parts of the world.

Front row (kneeling) left to right:

Richard Egbaiyelo, Sodunke Babajide, Oluwole Cole, Michael Elumeze, Benedict Ikwenobe, Abimbola Aibinu, Ernest Ndiwe, Femi Dos Reis

Second row- left to right:

Mr. A. A. Kpotie (Biology Teacher), Joseph Obasa, Charles Hazoume, Ekong Udoffia (late), Wale Adewoyin, Francis Egbuniwe (late), Olayinka Sanni (late), Bodunde Badiru, Babatunde Ogunde, Ayodele Omokoya, Jonathan Egboh (late), Femi Olanrewaju (late), Joseph Molokwu, Visiting teacher from NCE (National College of Education)

Back row- left to right:

Emmanuel Nwaise, Joseph Olisemeka, Pius Danso, Emmanuel Ohikere, Anthony Edem, Adetola Alimi, Adegboyega Solarin, Felix Membu (late), Layiwola Ladenegan, Onofiok Ufot, Philip Bieni, Babatunde Akinwunmi, Akinsola Akinsete (snr).

As a confirmation of the academic depth of my Finbarr’s experience, images of my artistically handcrafted, customized, and inscribed notebook covers are provided below for my three science subjects of the day: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. These notebooks were popular with my instructors and classmates. It was customary for classmates to borrow my class notes for the purpose of building their own study notes. These notes were so useful that I still occasionally refer to the contents for current scientific