Soccer or football is to Nigerians what baseball is to Americans. This simply means that soccer is as important to Nigerians as baseball is to the people of the U.S.A. It is the most prominent sporting event in the land.

In the annals of Nigeria's soccer history, Umuaka has carved a place for itself. From elementary school soccer matches to secondary school contests, our teams have always been admired. At state and national levels, the story remains the same. Just who are the " soccer show promoters" of Aka Town? Why are they so special to us?

In the 1950's the name of Umuaka had been projected to center stage in Holy Ghost College's soccer history. Mr. Boniface Okoro, who later played for several national clubs, and remained Nigeria's center forward for many years was the one that put Holy Ghost Owerri on the soccer map.

From Holy Ghost he was tapped by the military team in Zaria, and then by Kaduna. Enugu Black Stars were after him. Then the Red Devils of Port Harcourt monopolized him, only to release him to the Nigerian Green Eagles.

Those were days when soccer was at its peak. The five O's of Port Harcourt - Okoro, Onyeali, Onyeama, and Onyeanwuna almost always assured Nigeria of victory over such soccer power houses of Ghana Black Stars; Egypt; Morocco; and even leading teams from England.

Remember Mortimore, Little John, and Stanley Mathews of England? For his speed, Boniface Okoro was variously described as antelope-footed; 404 - after the French automobile that captured the hearts of Nigerians. But Boniface was not the only soccer figure in Umuaka. Aloysius Nnodi Oguike (One Niger), the best goal keeper our town has ever produced in the past 40 years. Niger did not only foil the efforts of strikers from opposing teams, but he had often frustrated and baffled them.

But Niger's soccer career did not advance very far. Reason? - He was so close to his mother that he did not feel quite ready to advance his soccer career beyond Orlu province. He received invitations from major national clubs but Niger was too family oriented to detach himself and move to the city of Port Harcourt or Enugu.

By early 1972/73, he accepted a teaching appointment at Enugu, and began to further his soccer career. At that time age was already becoming a factor. In the 1960's Moses Anyanwu of Amiyi had become the first international soccer referee from Akah.

It is very hard to name all the soccer super-stars that have emerged from this town. Onumara John (O.J) and Aloy Nnaji; D.D. Chinaka (Iron Bar); Aloysius Meremikwu; Fred Orgazi and Fred Metu; Lazarus Ojikeya (Simplicity); Cyril Ozurigbo; Peter Ojinnaka, Ambrose Ojinnaka, and Paul Ojinnaka; Marcellinus Italy Okoro and Greg Okoro; Edwin Achazie, Bernard Ihugba (Manchester), and Dona Ughabugo; Amos Okehie; Ukaegbulem Ebeleukwu; Raphael Omo Mbamara, Ferdy Nwachukwu, and Edward Ndionu; Nwokoro Osumba; Akamere Madu, Member Akano, and cole Okoro. The list goes on and on. These different generations of soccer players made Aka proud of its soccer achievements and we salute them.

In other sporting activities, Umuaka was a force to be contended with. From Stella Maris College, Port Harcourt, Ifeanyi Hippolitus Amuzie towered to the Nigerian Table Tennis Championship by beating established players of the caliber of Solomon Gbangbade and Egeronu. At Port Harcourt City Council tournaments, he captured the title. He won the Nigerian Championship and along with Edwin Anuforo and Anthony Ukpabi both of Stella Maris, he beat teams from Egypt and Ghana.

Amuzie was the single individual whose table tennis accomplishments motivated Umuaka youth to strive for the ping pong stars. Ferdy Nworji, Justin Izunwa, and Higinus Okpara were the most locally known table tennis players. Given rising interest in ping pong, the Umuaka students Association delegated Greg Okoro to purchase a set of table tennis equipment for our youth. By 1966 Umuaka students enjoyed table tennis on standard equipment purchased at Port Harcourt.

The story was different at the tennis courts. There were innumerable rising stars namely, Dennis Agwumezie, Ferdy Nworji, Bartho Anyanji, Donatus Nnabue, Jude Collins Nwachukwu. Some of these could easily have become professional players. The problem was lack of funding and encouragement. We hope future generations of rising sports stars would not be handicapped by finance and encouragement. One way to encourage them is through sports scholarships and donation of trophies to schools.