By Innocent Onoh
Some football fans feel satisfied seeing their idols on television. But soccer fans in Lagos have grabbed the memory of a lifetime. Last Sunday, they enjoyed the rare privilege of having a face-to-face meeting and interaction with the legendary French star, Thierry Henry of Arsenal, who was visiting Nigeria for the first time.
It was a moment of wild jubilation for the fans who chanted, “Igwe, Igwe, Igwe” to welcome the All-time best player to the banquet prepared for him in Victoria Island, Lagos. Among football fans in Nigeria Thierry Henry is referred to as Igwe, Igbo word for king.
Expressing his joy, an Arsenal fan Opeoluwa Adebayo said, “the experience is out of this world. We went to the airport to welcome him when he landed and we came down to this event centre. It is so explosive for one to personally meet one of his legends”.
Henry, who is the latest brand ambassador of Guinness Nigeria Plc, arrived at the venue about two hours late, a situation the organizers blamed on flight delay due to bad weather. At a news briefing shortly after the footballer’s arrival, one of the officials, Mr. Rotimi Odusola, said the company was proud to identify with the popular French soccer star, especially in bringing him to the country to meet thousands of his fans.
Another official, Peter Ndegwa, eulogized the highly celebrated footballer. “We are immensely proud to have Thierry Henry as an ambassador of our Made of Black Program. Thierry Henry is an international icon of the highest caliber. He is a four-time English Premier League top scorer; he is Arsenal’s all-time top scorer with 228 goals. He is also the French all-time goal scorer with 51 goals”.
Mr. Ndegwa drove the point home. “Behind Thierry’s glittering career is a story of near fanatical dedication towards honing his craft – Always reaching to be better – Always focused on giving more – on achieving more and giving back – no matter what successes he had. Driven by relentless zeal to be the best, he could be for himself and for his teammates, for the fans and for the game”, Mr. Ndegwa said.
For the company’s Corporate Relations Director, Viola Graham, part of the idea behind the campaign is also to encourage responsible drinking among Nigerians, especially to discourage people below 18 from taking alcoholic drinks.
Thierry Henry said he had a nice time engaging himself in many activities including preparing jollof rice, a major delicacy in Nigeria as well as watching the football match between Manchester United and West Brom with many of the fans.
The high point of the ceremony was the crowing of the football legend, Henry Thierry, “the Igwe of football” by Arsenal fans who came to the event from all parts of the country.
