In Owerri, the name of Uche Ejimofor is synonymous with football since the 1980s. A former footballer who became a journalist and then a club administrator, Ejimofor is famous for surviving a plane crash with Iwuanyanwu Nationale in 1994 that left two players dead and others maimed.

He wears it proudly as a badge of honour. “No team administrator has won five national titles and if they do, they haven’t survived a plane crash,” Ejimofor proudly told Goal in Owerri.

It was such resolve that helped him to sign former Nigeria star Nwankwo Kanu to his first professional contract in 1992. Ejimofor had heard about the impressive talent making heads turn on the local school football circuit in Owerri. So he went to watch him play and immediately knew there was something in the young boy.

“He was good but he was slim, like something that could break,” said Ejimofor.

Mazi Uche Ejimofor

He struggled to find the fees to sign the lad from the amateur club that he had been attached to while fending off interest from Enyimba, the club from the rich market town of Aba. The influence of Kanu’s father, a Nationale supporters’ club member, also played a major role in ensuring his success.

Though very young, Kanu was promoted into the first team at Iwuanyanwu but still faced tough times as he sought for opportunities to prove himself to the coaches. But Ejimofor never gave up.

“I kept encouraging him and even took him to a game in my car one day when he and another young player had been dropped from the match day squad. When we got to the game, he was eventually selected and he scored the winning goal. I asked the team to pay me back my money for transporting him to the game,” said Ejimofor.

From under Ejimofor’s watch, Kanu went on to become a member of the Nigeria U17 squad that won the Fifa title in 1993. Afterwards, things moved so fast and Kanu left Ejimofor’s care for the Netherlands where he signed for Ajax.

Then international acclaim came for the player as he led Nigeria to win the continent’s first Olympic men’s football gold in 1996 at Atlanta. Further moves were made to Inter Milan, Arsenal, Portsmouth and West Brom before he called time on his career.

Papilo FC

There was a time Ejimofor became very afraid for his protégé. In 1996, weeks after the Olympic win, Kanu’s transfer to Inter Milan was stalled after it was discovered he had a hole in his heart that could threaten his football career. The player sought treatment at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States.

“Initially we were told he wasn’t going to be able to play football again, it was sad,” said Ejimofor. “It’s the miracle of the century as he started playing again.

“He does not talk much about that operation, he believes it’s a miracle from God.”

Today, Ejimofor works as chairman of Papilo FC, the team that Kanu founded two years ago in order to help talented young footballers in Owerri achieve their dreams of playing professional football.

“He’s a special being and we may never have someone like him again,” he said.

The football legend has given Owerri the Kanu Nwankwo Sports Complex, a members-only facility with a synthetic football pitch, basketball court, boxing ring and a club house.

“He is giving back to the town that made him. This is one of many things to come,” Ejimofor said.

http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4093/nigerian-football/2016/08/12/26447892/uche-ejimofor-the-man-who-handed-kanu-his-first-professional?ICID=HP_HN_1

Good

Ok

Wow


Meaning dont despise the days of little beginning

He struggled to find the fees to sign the lad from the amateur club that he had been attached to

He struggled to find the sign on fee of #47k! Still remembered that back page sports of Statesman newspaper that had Senior Nwankwo's sign on story in June 1992.

I don't think he needed to prove him in the field of play. Everybody knew he was a star about glow. He was infact signed on the next day after writing his last SSCE paper!

Senior Nwankwo needs to do something for Holy Ghost College, Owerri too.

This is the type of people that we need to see in the sport-related agencies and not people like Solomon "incompetent" Dalung or Amaju Pinnick

May God bless you for indirectly giving Nigeria this Hero!!!

Do good for good to come your way!!!

Igbos don't help igbos, why?

He looks poor.

where was Kanu hugging Maradona and what was he telling him? anybody knows?

Okay

Hmmmm

My PAPILO of life! May God bless me and u and every hand that like my comment

Story that touches

Wow...No man is self made...Someone always bring u up...Oluwa make I helper locate me..And if u on Nairaland and by anyway cn help...Watsapp me on 08163982264...My own na music

Okay

that's a living legend... n he also lives an exemplary life

I am very excited and proud of him

I hope papillo has reciprocated his gesture by way of cash in areas and even in Advance

Ymodulus:
Igbos don't help igbos, why?

He looks poor.

did you miss this part oga?

robosky02:

Today, Ejimofor works as chairman of Papilo FC, the team that Kanu founded two years ago in order to help talented young footballers in Owerri achieve their dreams of playing professional football.

...a heart-touching story

Coolie

Ymodulus:
Igbos don't help igbos, why?

He looks poor.

Yeye

Juliaann:
did you miss this part oga?

u dey mind dat riffraff? He always make tribal comments

Ymodulus:
Igbos don't help igbos, why?

He looks poor.

Lie

Uche Ejimofor of Radio Biafra, no wonder! Names can deceive. Today, Ejimofor works as chairman of Papilo FC, the team that Kanu founded two years ago in order to help talented young footballers in Owerri achieve their dreams of playing professional football.

WoW

Ymodulus:
Igbos don't help igbos, why?
He looks poor.

Almajiri how far?

Have you eaten today?

Ymodulus:
Igbos don't help igbos, why?

He looks poor.

So you didn't see,where it was written that he is Papillo FC Chairman.... You just want to be noticed.

kossyablaze:
u dey mind dat riffraff? He always make tribal comments

LOL


Btw kossy I just dey look you

I have a 22 years old boy I saw back in the days in a similar situation. He was so good on field that I had to put him in a football academy in Cotonou. A real star!. I mean, he was so good I had to beg him to show me their house so I could talk to the mother to make sure they allow him to play football.

Went to Cotonou the other day and saw him and he's hibernating between football and street hustle because of lack of resources to continue. If anybody know this man should contact me let me handover the guy to him. I'm quite sure he'll be as good as Kanu or even better. In fact, if he doesn't play football he would be a wasted talent.

Juliaann:
LOL


Btw kossy I just dey look you

Wetin I do? Abi na my profile pic u dey look?