It wasn't a corner kick although the infringement occurred at the touchline just at the tip of the corner arc. It was a normal spot kick.
A young lad was selected to take the kick. He fixed the ball properly on the spot with his own hands, took some steps backwards and lifted his head as if it was too big for his body. He took a looK at the goal post.
Everyone knew he couldn't score from that angle. Apart from being near impossible, the size of the young lad didn't help matters and also the goal keeper for A.M.E. Zion, a lad named Aniedi already earned himself a new name "Mamarock" during the tournament for his rock solid goal keeping.
It was the eighty ninth minute in an exiting match between A.M.E Zion Primary School versus Primary School Uko Uyukim both in Oron LG. A.M.E Zion has been something of the bigger team. The boys were much bigger and stronger. Not withstanding, Uko Uyukim was the better attacking team.
It was a crucial match for Uko Uyukim as they needed a win to move to the next stage of the tournament. Score line was goalless. Spectators were already on their way out of the field. Suddenly the crowd roared into a frenzy.
It was unbelievable, unimaginable! The young lad had taken what would have been a banana kick but judging by the ball velocity and the dangerous angle the ball hit the net it must have been a combination of banana, plantain, cocoyam and cassava kicks. By the time the jubilant crowd calmed down the referee had blown his whistle for game over.
It was 1-0 in favor of Uko Uyukim courtesy of young Victor Antai who took the spot kick. He was also the team captain of a not so big team. But with his inspiration and leadership, the small team did big things.
Years after Victor was also to start small and grew into a formidable entrepreneur who built from scratch a small company to a giant which became a household name in industrial cleaning starting from the 90s in Abuja, Lagos and most capital cities in Nigeria.
He secured retainership in Nicon Nuga Hilton Hotel Abuja, Sheraton Hotel, Central Bank and other major establishments employing tens of youths and creating employment.
It was also the period Mbo indigenes dominated small, medium and micro enterprise sector in Oro nation.
It was a period that produced the likes of Nsor, Nse Ekpenyong, Eyo aka Eyosuang and many other young entrepreneurs who took over the entire stretch of Oro water fronts from Okobogho to Ibaka. That was before politics became the only business in Akwa Ibom State.
Mr. Antai was to venture into politics - a venture that has brought out the other side of him. The side of compassion, the side of resilience, the side of love for motherland and humanity. Above all, the side of faithfulness and loyalty.
His loyalty to then government of the day saw his tremendous growth breaking the single term jinx of chairmanship in Mbo LG. A loyalty now transferred and rested solidly behind the present government led by Mr. Udom Emmanuel.
Victor like any other human being is also subject to fallibilities but one of such is not betrayal. But he also has tremendous ability for regeneration and self recovery.
His regeneration after his transfer from Ministry of Local Government to Culture and Tourism has been as dramatic as enigmatic.
And as we speak Mr. Antai is changing the face of culture and tourism in the state in an uncommon way which is in tandem with the vision of Gov Udom Emmanuel.
As Mr. Victor celebrates his 52nd birthday today, he represents a stunning example of success through hard work. Akwa Ibom State and Oro in particular would be looking for his likes who have been tested in the business world as well as in politics to use their experiences in both worlds to help the state appreciate the vision of the State Chief Executive which is a return to greatness. A return to creativity and enterprise.
A return to hard work, education, vocation, professionalism and best practice. To take risk and create wealth. To embrace politics not as an ultimate tool but one of the tools of development.
To understand that while the stone of David was anointed to kill Goliath he could not have achieved it without his shooting skills which was due largely to training, hardwork and years of practice.
That life is without short-cuts. That although the promised land was full of milk and honey, Israelites still have to work hard and till the soil.
From doing, they learnt, made mistakes and improved. The promised milk didn't fall from heaven, they manufactured it. Akwa Ibom like Israel is a land of promise.
That we must arise to the fate of greatness and position ourselves to realize the promise by re-embracing our culture of hardwork.
Who knows Gov Udom Emmanuel may have reassigned Mr. Antai to culture and tourism for a purpose.
Where else do you place an entrepreneurial mind in a regime which policy thrust is industrialization? As the saying goes, there is a nexus between culture and economic development.
Happy Birthday Honourable Commissioner!
James Abang Writes From Atte-Okiuso Village, Urueoffong/Oruko LGA.
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