L-R: Coach Victor; An Officer; CEO Achieving Greatness, Mr. Emmanuel Ojibo; Base Commander, 651 Base Services Group, Ikeja, Air Commodore Kolade Adeniran Ademuwagun; Director, Institute of Army Education, Nigerian Army Cantonment Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M.M Kini; Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi; Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso; Director, Nigerian Army Archives, Ikeja Military Cantonment, Lagos, Brig. Gen. M.A. Uba and other dignitaries during the Novelty Match between Little Wonders FC and Bomb Blast FC Organized by the 9 Brigade Commander at the Lt. Gen. T. Y. Buratai sports complex inside the Army cantonment, Ikeja.

 

The Brigade Commander of the Nigerian Army 9 Brigade Command, Maryland, Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso has yet again fulfilled his promise to support the Little Wonders FC, the football team resident in the cantonment with a visit of Super Eagles and Leicester City midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi. This is in line with his decision to spur Little Wonders to success as they prepare to play in the Lagos State League. The team qualified for the league for the first time since its inception in 2002.

The visit of the Nigerian international, Wilfred Ndidi came alongside a friendly match of Little Wonders FC against Bomb Blast FC at the Lt. Gen. T. Y. Buratai sports complex inside the army cantonment. The game was an explosive match and is second in series lined up for the team by Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso. It ended in a 2-2 draw with Wilfred Ndidi scoring the second goal for Little Wonders FC. The other goals were scored by Stanley Joseph of Little Wonders and the duo of Bulus Zaina and Nurudeen Akanbi of Bomb Blast FC.

L-R: Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi Presenting His Club T-shirt to the Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso during the Novelty Match between Little Wonders FC and Bomb Blast FC Organized by the 9 Brigade Commander at the Lt. Gen. T. Y. Buratai sports complex inside the Army cantonment, Ikeja.

 

Speaking with Oki Samson of Trek Africa Newspaper and other Pressmen on the reason for the novelty match, Brig. Gen. M. Saraso noted: ‘The essence of organizing this friendly novelty match is just to encourage the youths in the barracks. When the Little Wonders FC that have been grooming themselves for years on this pitch, Ndidi was one of them until he left for Europe to play professionally. They for the very first time as a team qualified to play in the Lagos State League. When they came to me with this good news, I promised that I am going to encourage them to go higher.

The least I can do is to get their contemporaries, people who started like them with humble beginnings and same background to come and identify with them, play with them, gist with them, get very good advice from them so that they can be encouraged and developed in order to realize their full potentials.’

Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi (2nd left);  Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso (2nd right); Admin Officer, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army, Lt. Omale Innocent (right) pose with the Little Wonders FC Junior Team during the Novelty Match between Little Wonders FC and Bomb Blast FC Organized by the 9 Brigade Commander at the Lt. Gen. T. Y. Buratai sports complex inside the Army cantonment, Ikeja.

 

‘We started this when I first brought in Moses Simon who plays with Nantes FC. He is also a barracks boy who started in Kaduna. His father is a soldier who served till he retired. I said it will not be out of place to get someone from this barracks from this same pitch. I found him and he obliged. I am sure it will impact youths playing on the pitch and those sitting on the pavilion by his presence and will likely wait to put in more determination to their acts.’

‘I want to encourage the youths to remain disciplined as the barracks is founded on discipline. There should be good ambassadors of the barracks, shun crimes and vices’, the Brigade Commander stated.

The special guest of honour at the football match, Wilfred Ndidi who also emerged from the barracks in Maryland, Lagos was elated to be invited to part of the success story. He said: ‘This is a great privilege for me to be back home. Special thanks to Brig. Gen. Saraso for inviting me. I am really honoured. I am really happy to see everyone. I am here to encourage these players and I believe my presence will make them feel that way. I am blessed to have come out of this place to let them know I came from the roots. I will advise the youths that they have the talent and quality, they should showcase it.’

L-R: Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi Receiving an Honor Gift from the Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso during the Novelty Match between Little Wonders FC and Bomb Blast FC Organized by the 9 Brigade Commander held at the Lt. Gen. T. Y. Buratai sports complex inside the Army cantonment, Ikeja.

 

On the need for youths to embrace education, the Leicester City FC star remarked: ‘On the other hand, they have to further their education which is a plus for you. It is a reality that you can be in school and play football so that you can have something to fall back on if football doesn’t work out.’

‘I didn’t think I would get to the top growing up in the barracks. I just wanted to play football. It was just the grace of God and the opportunity came and I took it. I am really pleased. I am really blessed. I am really proud of myself’, Ndidi concluded.

L-R: CEO Achieving Greatness, Mr. Emmanuel Ojibo; Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi; CEO, Emperor Resources Ltd, Mr. Femi Shadamoro; Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso; CEO of Teeded Nig. LTD, Mr. Tunji Aded Adeyankinnu; and other dignitaries during the Novelty Match between Little Wonders FC and Bomb Blast FC Organized by the 9 Brigade Commander at the Lt. Gen. T. Y. Buratai sports complex inside the Army cantonment, Ikeja.

 

Meanwhile, at the event, Wilfred Ndidi gave N500,000 each to Little Wonders FC, Bomb Blast FC, and widows in the cantonment.

Other dignitaries at the novelty match are; Base Commander, 651 Base Services Group, Ikeja, Air Commodore Kolade Adeniran Ademuwagun; Director, Institute of Army Education, Nigerian Army Cantonment Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M.M Kini; ; Director, Nigerian Army Archives, Ikeja Military Cantonment, Lagos, Brig. Gen. M.A. Uba; CEO Achieving Greatness, Mr. Emmanuel Ojibo; Chief of Staff, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army Cantonment Ikeja, Col. I.O. Amah; CEO of Teeded Nig. LTD, Mr. Tunji Aded Adeyankinnu; CEO, Emperor Resources Ltd, Mr. Femi Shadamoro among others personalities.

L-R: Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi Presenting Sport Kit Materials to the Little Wonders FC Captain being Supported by the Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso.

Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso giving his Welcome Speech during the Novelty Match between Little Wonders FC and Bomb Blast FC Organized by the 9 Brigade Commander held at the Lt. Gen. T. Y. Buratai sports complex inside the Army cantonment, Ikeja.

L-R: Director, Institute of Army Education, Nigerian Army Cantonment Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M.M Kini and Director, Nigerian Army Archives, Ikeja Military Cantonment, Lagos, Brig. Gen. M.A. Uba.

L-R: Base Commander, 651 Base Services Group, Ikeja, Air Commodore Kolade Adeniran Ademuwagun and Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso at the Novelty Match.

L-R: Base Commander, 651 Base Services Group, Ikeja, Air Commodore Kolade Adeniran Ademuwagun; Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso and Coach Victor during the Novelty Match.

L-R: CEO Achieving Greatness, Mr. Emmanuel Ojibo and Chief of Staff, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army Cantonment Ikeja, Col. I.O. Amah at the Novelty Match.

L-R: Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso and his Special Guest of Honor; Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi at the Novelty Match.

L-R: Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M.L.D Saraso; CEO, Emperor Resources Ltd, Mr. Femi Shadamoro and CEO of Teeded Nig. LTD, Mr. Tunji Aded Adeyankinnu.

Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi (2nd left) Presenting Sport Kit Materials to the Bomb Blast FC Captain being Supported by the Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso (2nd right).

L-R: Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso; Base Commander, 651 Base Services Group, Ikeja, Air Commodore Kolade Adeniran Ademuwagun and Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi at the Novelty Match.

Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso (m); Base Commander, 651 Base Services Group, Ikeja, Air Commodore Kolade Adeniran Ademuwagun (3rd left); Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi (4th left) and others posing with the Bomb Blast FC Team at the Novelty Match.

Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso (m); Base Commander, 651 Base Services Group, Ikeja, Air Commodore Kolade Adeniran Ademuwagun (5th left); Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi (7th left) and others posing with the Little Wonders FC Team at the Novelty Match.

Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso (right) Presenting a Souvenir to one of the Match Official

Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso (left) in a warm handshake with the Bomb Blast FC Team at the Novelty Match.

L-R: Base Commander, 651 Base Services Group, Ikeja, Air Commodore Kolade Adeniran Ademuwagun; Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso; Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi in a warm greetings with the Bomb Blast FC Team during the Novelty Match.

Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi (right) in a warm handshake with the Little Wonders FC Team during the Novelty Match

Some Women and Youths of the Ikeja Cantonment exactedly in a warm handshake with the Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi.

L-R: Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi giving his Keynote Speech with the Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso during the Novelty Match

Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi (right) in a warm handshake with the Little Wonders FC Team during the Novelty Match

Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso (right) Presenting a Souvenir to one of the Match Official

L-R: Super Eagles and Leicester City Midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi Presenting His Club T-shirt to the Commander, 9 Brigade Command, Nigerian Army Ikeja, Brig. Gen. M. L. D. Saraso during the Novelty Match between Little Wonders FC and Bomb Blast FC Organized by the 9 Brigade Commander at the Lt. Gen. T. Y. Buratai sports complex inside the Army cantonment, Ikeja.

Little Wonders FC 


Oki Samson