EX-Super Eagles and Ajax winger, Finidi George, former Rangers and Abia Warriors coaches, Imama Amapakabo and Kennedy Boboye are expected to feature in the Victor Ezeji Testimonial.
Chairman of the Main Organizing Committee (MOC), China Acheru speaking at a press conference in Port Harcourt, Acheru said the event which is billed to take place on the 10th of December is set aside to celebrate one of Nigeria’s great in football. Acheru noted that Ejezi is one of Nigeria’s most decorated players who played his football in Nigeria and deserved to be honoured.
‘‘In February when he officially ended his career he had a press conference in Lagos and a lot of people asked why Lagos, why not Port Harcourt, you are a Port Harcourt boy, you played most of your career for Sharks and Dolphins and he (Ezeji) said no there will be a bigger one that will be in Port Harcourt and this is it and we have been planning for about three to four months now and we getting close, we have just about two months for the main event and I think the only two Nigeria’s that are more decorated than him are Nwankwo Kanu and John Mikel Obi so I think we need to honour somebody like this and that’s why we are here to let you know that a great footballer has decided to stop playing football’’.
The event will take place over three days starting with a press parley with fans and the media on Friday 9th December. The game proper will take place the next day at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium which will be followed by a dinner later that evening. A thanksgiving service will be held on Sunday morning, the 11th of December to wrap of the Victor Ezeji Testimonial activities.
Ezeji who is the only Nigerian to have played twenty seasons in Nigeria's top flight, appreciated Almighty God for helping him in achieving this great feat in football before paying tribute to his late parents for their assistance in grooming him to becoming a better person. He thanked the media for always standing by him before expressing his optimism ahead the testimonial game.
‘‘I think I have worked so hard and I don’t just need to sleep like how every other football has done, I need to play a testimonial, even if nobody gives me that respect I should be able to give that to myself that why I came to say ok let’s do this together and am very sure we can achieve it because there is nothing you cannot achieve once your mind is set on it’’.
He also highlighted some of the personalities that will be part of his team for the game.
‘I have spoken to a handful of players; Obinna Nwaneri is one person we hope to see, I’m bringing Dodo, Imama Amapakabo, Kenedy Boboye and a whole lot of guys. We are in touch with Finidi George and his elder brother Alari George as well as others.
Ezeji started his professional career with Sharks in 1996, he also played for Eagle Cement/Dolphins, Enyimba, Sunshine Stars and Heartland.
He won the league with Dolphins in 2004 in addition to three FA Cup titles in '04, '06, '07.
While at Enyimba, Ezeji won the Nigerian League title, A CAF Champions league and a CAF Super Cup.
He also added a WAFU Cup medal to his kitty when he returned for a third stint at Sharks from 2008-2012.
