By DESMOND EKWUEME
Patrick Olusegun Odegbami (MON) is in the news again. He has always been in the news for positive reasons ever since he chose football as a career. He was part of the 1980 squad that won AFCON for the first time ever for Nigeria on home soil.
Odegbami, fondly called “Mathematical”, a nickname given to him by legendary broadcaster cum commentator extraordinaire, the late Ernest Okonkwo on account to his mesmerising moves on the flank with calculative touches and sublime dribbles is said to be eyeing the keys to Government House Abeokuta come 2019.
This move naturally reminds all of Liberia President, George Opong Weah who was also an ex-international. But it is not the first time Odegbami is seeking to serve in exalted position or office. Severally, he has attempted to run for the seat of President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) but had his dream and lofty ideas scuttled by the “powers-that-be”. He has also tried the office of FIFA President at a time the search for the replacement of Joseph Sepp Blatter was on following the massive fraud discovered in the world football governing body by the Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI).
Odegbami is a household name in sports. Aside captaining the Green Eagles after Christian Chukwu’s exit, he was actively involved in the success story of Chioma Ajunwa gold medal winning feat at the Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games. Odegbami initiated the Shell Cup competition to help discover talents and nurture them to stardom in a catch-them-young programme.
He established The International Academy (TIA) in his home town, Wasinmi near Abeokuta. He later changed the name to Segun Odegbami College and Sports Academy (SOCA).
Odegbami proposed the joint World Cup bid by Nigeria, Benin Republic and Ghana which was waved aside and laughed off then as a mere dream but at present, it became a reference and talking point following the successful bid of USA, Mexico and Canada for the 2026 World Cup.
Odegbami has not told Nigerians under which political platform or party, he hopes to contest the gubernatorial race of Ogun State but, he will surely enjoy the support of all and sundry on account of his excellent career as a footballer. Note that Odegbami is a man of many parts. Aside football which he retired from, he has been involved in journalism crisscrossing both print and broadcast fields. He is an excellent marketer who has been working for major multi-national organizations as a consultant.
Now that politics is knocking on his door or do we say, now that he has decided to try his luck in politics, one can only pray that he records high level of success just like he did with and in football. Odegbami could just be setting the tone for his colleagues to tow his line of thought and footprints to possibly effect the needed change Nigerians have been clamouring for.
There is no doubt that this man has the qualities to lead. Our prayers should be for God to remove all stumbling blocks on his way to political stardom!
Like his mathematical calculations while trying to dribble pass his opponents on the field of play in his playing days, one can only hope, Odegbami has done his homework thoroughly by calculating well before deciding to step out majestically and mathematically into the murky waters of Nigerian politics.
What a time to declare his political ambition! What a time to step out mathematically! A time the world converges in Russia for the World Cup. What a mathematical step Odegbami is taking!
