The cricket family in Lagos at the weekend paid respect to one of their departed cricketers, Efere Ozako who was a former Legal Adviser to the Club Cricket Committee before his death on April 18.
Femi Solebo’s half century led the chairman eleven selected side to a six – wicket win over President Eleven in a memorial match played at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval organized by Federal Government Warri Old Students Association Cricket Club.
After losing opening batsman Chris Shokoya to Dipo Idowu’s bowling the duo of Femi Solebo (81) and Mathias Devadayal (21) formed a solid partnership to guide their team to victory with 10 balls to spare.
During the first innings captain Emeka Onyema’s decision to bat first when he won the toss was proving to be a wrong decision early on in the game when Oris Oruye got the wickets of Olisa Egwuatu and Tade Ademola before Tayo Atoloye (28 runs), Ayo Onafeko (28), Ephraim Barnaby (22 runs not out) and Emeka Onyeama 14 runs all contributed a meaningful score of 123 runs for 7 wickets in 20 overs.
Prior to the start of the second innings wife of the late cricketer Mrs. Anu Ozako took time to shake hands with every cricketer present at the oval. Then followed glowing tributes paid to one of the initiators of Federal Government College Warri Old Students Association Cricket Club.
First to speak was his close associate Peter Isibor who said “ Though the wife lost her darling husband, he can beat his chest to say all cricketers are ready to play the role of a husband and whenever she needs help either for herself or for the children she should not hesitate to ask”.
In the same vein Femi Solebo Chairman of Club Cricket Committee presented a plague to the wife of the former Legal Adviser of the League while President of Nigerian Cricket Federation Emeka Onyeama said “ the Efere that I know was a perfect gentleman who represented what the game of cricket depicts, but it is just unfortunate that he left us to the great beyond. The chairman of the Abuja Cricket Association further said he would meet with the new NCF board members to determine what to do for the Ozako Family”.
Lastly, chairman of Delta State Cricket Association who also doubles as captain of Federal Government College Warri Old Students Association Cricket Club presented the Jersey Efere Ozako used to play with while he was alive to the wife which rolled down tears from everyone present.
Much as the memorial match brought about sober reflections to all cricketers it was also a re-union of sort for Federal Government College Warri Old Students who had lost contacts to gain them back as well as chart a new course on how to make their Alma Mata better.
