The last time a Nigerian player lifted the prestigious UEFA Champions League trophy was around 10 years in the past when John Obi Mikel emerged victorious with Chelsea.
Davido greeting match officers just before the kickoff of the Lagos match of the Heineken UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour
Nonetheless, this past week will continue being indelible in the minds of a lot of Nigerians, specifically these in Lagos and Abuja, who were portion of the 2022 Heineken UEFA Champions League trophy tour.
Aside from the glitz and glamour that was the hallmark of the trophy tour, Heineken by way of its loaded two-day routines also passed some salient lessons that would inspire Nigerian youth to aspire to attain laudable established aims that can be likened to lifting the most-coveted trophy in international club football.
Clarence Seedorf, the trophy tour ambassador, as well as Nigerian legends Austin Jay Jay Okocha and Daniel Amokachi, who are all historical past makers in their possess proper, shared experiences that highlighted that there is no shortcut to achievements other than for difficult work and determination.
For the trio, acquiring some thing as terrific as lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy desires a lot of tough operate, self-control and perseverance between other attributes, which, if imbibed, will also assistance in other spheres of lifestyle outdoors football.
Seedorf, who is one particular of the most successful players in UEFA Champions League history and the very first and at present the only participant to have won the trophy with a few golf equipment, shared his inspirational working experience that will absolutely resonate with everybody that arrived in contact with him throughout his limited stay in Nigeria.
The Dutch legend experienced his very first expertise of lifting the Champions League trophy as a 19-calendar year outdated actively playing together with the Nigerian duo of Finidi George and Kanu Nwankwo at Ajax Amsterdam.
But even though the 1995 triumph was the only just one for most of his Ajax teammates, Seedorf went on to elevate 3 a lot more titles, the last coming 12 a long time afterwards in 2007 with AC Milan.
Even though in Nigeria, Seedorf said he was happy to be again ‘home’ with the trophy that intended a million things to him.
“We have the opportunity to deliver this trophy near to all those who by no means imagined or dreamt about obtaining near to the trophy. It’s gorgeous to send out that message to dream large, do the job tough, remain absent from prescription drugs and be a human being that believes in himself and this is how I came to realise my aspiration,” he stated whilst addressing reporters in Lagos.
Promoting Director, Nigerian Breweries PLC, Emmanuel Oriakhi, captured the significance attached to the Heineken Champions League trophy tour.
He said: “As generally, Heineken has some thing impressive for Nigerians and when all over again we are executing this. A ton of persons argued that it's possible the timing would have been far more ideal relating to the disappointment Nigeria suffered a couple months again.
“But we are resilient as a people and we are always favourable and think tomorrow will be far better. For these of us even now let down not qualifying for the Entire world Cup we have the UEFA Champions League.
“The UEFA Champions League is one particular of the ideal sporting occasions in the globe and Heineken has been associates with UEFA for pretty a even though and in Nigeria, we have been activating this for a quite long time period.”
Whilst this is not the first time the UEFA Champions League trophy will be coming to Nigeria, there have been a couple of contemporary innovations that produced this 2022 edition even additional worthwhile.
1 of these types of was the faceoff challenge that pitched Group Davido versus Crew Seedorf in an entertaining and exhilarating five-a-side soccer contest.
Crew Nigeria was designed up of Okocha, Amokachi, Taribo, well-known Nigerian Artiste Dare Artwork Alade, MI and Davido, who was the captain and the team was coached by previous Super Falcon star, Rita Nwadike.
For Team Heineken, Seedorf wore the armband and former Falcons midfielder, Maureen Mmadu, was the mentor.
With 14 plans scored in the funfilled match, enthusiasts and loyal Heineken customers current at the Landmark Occasion centre had an unforgettable experience.
This established the tone for the more special match viewing knowledge in which Chelsea virtually recorded one particular of the greatest comebacks in Champions League soccer heritage towards Serious Madrid.
Unfortunately for the Blues, they came really shut to securing a berth in the semifinal but ended up undone by the added time strike by Karim Benzema.
While Chelsea had a superior starting but a unhappy ending, it wasn’t the identical for the enthusiasts and loyal Heineken customers current at the Landmark Party centre.
What experienced currently been a entertaining-crammed working day, completely climaxed with two of Nigeria’s most effective hip hop artistes, Reekado Financial institutions and Davido, getting the centrestage and dishing out their strike songs to the admiration of the pretty passionate supporters, who were united by way of the night time regardless of which of the golf equipment they guidance.
After the befitting climax in Lagos, the following place of phone was Abuja, the Federal Cash Territory, wherever the Champions League trophy and the Heineken team produced a grand entry into the city aboard a custom made plane totally branded and exhibiting the splendour of the intercontinental quality beer.
The admiration for trophy tour ambassador Seedorf on arrival at the Abuja airport was a testament to his world-wide famous standing and it also intended Heineken designed the intelligent alternative of going for the Dutch legend.
The trophy tour commenced from the Transcorp Hilton, Wuse II as a result of Adetokunbo Ademola to the MKO Abiola Stadium, where Youth and Athletics Development Minister, Sunday Dare warmly acquired the team.
The minster particularly praised Heineken for bringing the Champions League trophy to Nigeria, describing it as a morale-boosting thought for the young minds in the region.
The visit to the minister was followed by a Satisfy and Greet session, which afforded additional chances to get near to Seedorf and the Champions League trophy for image sessions.
There was also the Abuja Purchaser Event Match Screening where fans appreciated the night’s match with Seedorf and the accompanying Nigerian legends.
In the course of the halftime split, there was an autograph signing session. When the last whistle sounded for the close of the game, it marked the start out of a contemporary round of enjoyment for the followers.
Artist Lojay established the tone for the night with his energetic efficiency prior to passing the baton to Peruzzi who held the enthusiasts certain with his hit songs with the Kaffy dance troupe also demonstrating the lovers what they’ve obtained.
DJ TTB had the ultimate say on the evening in Abuja as he played deep into the evening with his turntables.
It is not a coincidence that Nigeria is the past halt for the Champions League trophy this calendar year soon after traveling to a handful of countries throughout the continents.
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