Rivalry match between shooting stars and water in the final of the Challenge Cup.
Shooting Stars won that match and went on to win the National Challenge Cup too, before going on to play in the African Cup Winners’ Cup, which it won the previous year, when it made history as the first club to win a Continental honor for Nigeria.
Shooting Stars lost to Rangers international of Enugu in a semi-final African Cup Winners Cup Competition match that was played in Lagos and Kaduna on a home and away basis in 1977. Rangers defeated IICC Shooting Stars and won the Cup Winners’ Cup trophy for Nigeria.
Water Corporation was no pushover as it also qualified to play in the African Cup Champions Cup in a year. I can’t remember clearly now. Water crashed out in the quarter-finals against a top team from East Africa.
Water supporters attributed the loss to the enmity between Shooting Stars and Water as they claimed that IICC supporters worked against them. Such was the bitter rivalry between them then. I can remember vividly that Segun Fawumi was Captain of the Water Corporation for many years during their glorious years.
Let us have knowledge of water squared
Goalkeepers: Ismaila Kukula, Rasaki Fadare, Aiddo
Defenders:Segun Fawunmi, Charles Kuranteg, Tunde Ojingolo (nicknamed Omo-Eko), Aziz, Clement Edward, Ali Zakari, Kunle Falana (nicknamed Aiyeoniyo), Albert Adetutu, Tijani (later switched to striker when the pond was getting dry…no more money to hold or buy players)The devil Anthony Edward
Midf. Thomas Bamigboye (swelling holder…started as a keeper and jokingly switched during one morning training and never stopped to be a MidF. A load of talent) Adebowale Jacobs (one of the best that never played for Naija…because he refused IICC also a very wild K leg) George Okoli (very light skin nicknamed Oko asewo) YINUSA BOLARINWA (what a player)then it was 4-2-4, so most teams always have two three MId f.
Strikers: Martin Onwuachi, Godwin Tialobi, Femi Bilewomo, Emeka Onyachi, Sam Asaolu, Sule Olaoye (very critical bow leg). Baba Ibrahim also last.
Written by Folorunsho Oyelakin