Amata Birthday Match: Ex-Eagles Beat Showbiz Stars

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A star-studded Green Eagles team led by Austin Jay Jay Okocha beat their counterparts from the entertainment industry 5-3 yesterday in a novelty football match to honour movie icon, Fred Amata on his 50th birthday.

•Former Eagles' captain,  Austin Okocha (left) fights for the ball with one of the showbiz  players during a match to celebrate Fred Amata's birthday at Campus Square, Lagos Island, yesterday.  Inset is Amata with the MVP  award after the match.  Photo:  Emmanuel Osodi.
•Former Eagles’ captain,
Austin Okocha (left) fights for the ball with one of the showbiz
players during a match to celebrate Fred Amata’s birthday at Campus Square, Lagos Island, yesterday.

Okocha, who played the whole 90 minutes of the game at the Campus Square pitch, Lagos Island, inspired his side with a hat-trick, while, former Eagles’ coach, Samson Siasia and Friday Ekpo also scored one goal each against a side captained by the celebrant, Fred Amata.

Okocha first puts his side ahead with two early goals in the 4th and 15th minutes of the game with superb strikes. The entertainers, however, had the opportunity to reduce the tally when a controversial penalty was awarded to them. But Amata was denied the spot by the Ex-Eagles shot stopper.

After the thrilling encounter, Okocha received the highest goal scorer plaque, while Fred and Oreva Amata received the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Most Outstanding Player laurels respectively.

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Amata with the MVP award after the match. Photos: Emmanuel Osodi.

Other ex-Eagles stars on parade included Peter Rufai, Victor Ikpeba, Ben Iroha, Friday Elahor, Obi-Gold Nwosu, Henry Nwosu, Mutiu Adepoju, Waheed Akanni and Emeka Ezeugo. Joe Erico was the team coach.

Some of the celebrities in Amata’s team are; Ali Baba, AY, Okey Bakasi, Afiz Oyetoro a.k.a. Saka, Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki), Osita Iheme (Pawpaw), Frank Edohor, Kcee, Moses Ewang and Akpororo.

—Bayo Adetu

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