Coal City Football Legends Association is a group made up of Ex-football players that the embreyo stages of either their football or educational careers originated from Enugu nicknamed COAL CITY.
The President of the Association is Spain based John Ikemefuna(Rasta) the above clarification also doubles as prerequisite to belong to the Association which has members, all ex football stars based in different countries around the World.
The primary objective of the Association is to give back to the society through Youths training, development and empowerment as well as progressive cooperation among members and support to the less privileged motherless babies and elderly people.
Activities marking the formal inauguration of the Association lasted for ten days(16-27/08/2021) which included distribution of book shelves to many schools in Enugu which was sponsored by UK based Ex Super Eagles star, Emma Okocha and family with St Patricks/St Peters Primary Schools Coal Camp and Achara layout primary school all in Enugu among the lot.
Visitation to many motherless, less privileged and elderly people homes with Cheshire Home Adelabu St Uwani Enugu as one of them. The climax was the final match of U-18 football tournament on the inauguration day proper which was won by Purple Krown Schools Enugu with cash reward of 200k.
The Runners up and third place winners got 150k and 100k respectively. So many young players were scouted by top National and International football clubs with Asata United Fc’s Joshua Nnaji joining Nigerian Pro League Club, Nnewi United FC.
After the U-18 football tournament final match, attention shifted from Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu to posh BON Hotel Sunshine in Enugu for the inauguration proper which was impressively attended by many football legends as well as active players,
many among whom were former Green Eagles stars/Coaches, Christian Chukwu(MFR) Stanley Okoronkwo, Dominic Nwobodo, Mike Makasi as well as World football legend & former Super Eagles Captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha with brother & former Super Eagles player Emma Okocha, Atlanta 96 gold medalist Kingsley Obiekwu and many others.
Some living football legends like Christian Chukwu, Dominic Nwobodo, Stanley Okoronkwo, Mike Makasi, Innocent Obiekwo and former Cranes of Uganda coach Harrison Okagbue(Mmimi Nawfia) were honoured with merit awards and cash while some late football legends/Coaches like Eto Amaechina, Luke Okpala, Alloysius Atuegbu(Block buster) & Bob Odume were equally rememberd with post humous award with cash supports to the families they left behind.
Other top officials of CCFLA including some of them in diaspora were physically present at historic occasion, they included BOT Chairman Pastor Tony Okeke, CCFL Media man Olisemeka Obi, Admin Nigeria Mr Evaristus Asadu, UK based CCFLA Secretary Pastor Chinedu Obi, CCFLA Phin Sec & former Rangers Int Captain Phinan Ozonweke, UK based Lordrick Uche(Abada)
The formal inauguration of CCFLA was also followed by the launching of the Association’s maiden Magazine that generated about 10 million naira with the Chairman of the occasion Emperor Baywood Chris Ibe ably represented by Prof Emeka Igwe donating the sum of two million naira. CCFLA Inauguration sponsors:Heritage Bank and Golden Guinea Breweries doled out one million naira each while legendary Austin Jay Jay Okocha shelled out two thousand US dollars.
Two prominent absentees in diaspora, US based former Rangers & flying Eagles Captain Ikechukwu Ofoje and UK based former Udoji Utd/Rangers Star Paschal Omeda who is CCFLA Chief Provost, both reacted in jubilation & affirmation regarding the outcome of the event.
Summarily, it was a highly successful occasion dedicated to God through the collective efforts of all members of Coal City Football Legends Association with special plaudits to all members of Inaugration Committee led by Olisa Onuchukwu, Ex-international player and Sporting Director of Nnewi United FC
