Lagos darling club side, Stationery Stores, made a historic return to Nigerian football after many years in the doldrums, ‘TANA AIYEJINA reports

For years, Lagosians lamented the ‘death’ of Stationery Stores FC, one of Nigeria’s most glamorous club sides of all time.

Founded in 1958 by the late Israel Adebajo, Stores became the darling team of most football followers in the country with their entertaining style of football, which spanned several generations.

Indeed, between 1973 and 1993, Stores were dominant in the Nigerian topflight league and never suffered relegation to the lower division.

Several generations of Nigeria’s finest footballers like Sam Opone, Peter Fregene, Yomi Peters, Wakilu Oyenuga, Peter Rufai, Abdul Sule, Abiodun Obafemi, Ike Shorunmu and several others were products of Up Flaming.

They won the Nigerian FA Cup four times in 1967, 1968, 1982, 1990; the Nigerian Premier League once (1992) and reached the final of the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1981 losing 2-1 on aggregate to Cameroon’s Union Douala.

They also reached the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League in 1993. But problems started for the club the same year, as they were relegated to the second division after their failure to complete their league fixtures.

Internal family strife reportedly set in as members battled for the soul of the club. After five years in the second division, the Nigeria Football Association cancelled all outstanding league games involving Stores following an injunction by a Lagos High Court restraining the club from playing any Pro League games pending the resolution of a lawsuit filed before the court to determine the ownership and control of the club.

The internal wrangling heightened and the club could not pay the salaries and entitlements of the players and officials for the 1998 season.

Stores were thus demoted to the amateur ranks in 1999 after they had been suspended for nine matches in the 1998 season. The club went into oblivion from there.

They tried to return to the professional ranks in 2004 but were relegated again after failing to play some games and fielded unregistered players in the matches they managed to play.

But 10 years later, February 16, 2014 precisely, Stores made a historic comeback to Nigerian football at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos, when it engaged Abia Comets in a Nigerian National League match.

The white handkerchiefs were back again. The vociferous supporters on that day evoked memories of old. Shouts of ‘Up Flaming’ filled the entire airwaves.

Among the crowd were Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, former Stores players, Tarila Okoronwanta and Collins Ebitimi; Gateway United coach, Henry Nwosu and Lagos FA members.

Stores had Ogunloye Adeniyi, Musa Sadiq, Thomas Okanlawon,  Jimoh Olawale, Ayo Filani, Richard Harrison, Jejelola Olaniyi, Onwirebe Rapheal, Ajah Festus, Chinonso Nwawu and Oghenovo Uzeze in their starting line-up while Jimoh Lucky, Adeniregun Quadri, Falolu Adeola, Ajabor Ihedu, Tinat Gideon, Onyekwelu Chibuzor and Ukatu Kingsley were on the substitute bench.

Former Union Bank coach and ex-Golden Eaglet star, Taiwo Enegwea, is the head coach of the club with one of the club’s greatest players, Yomi Peters, appointed as Team Manager.

Musa Sadiq entered the history books when he scored Stores first league goal on their return. The enterprising player levelled the score for the home team from the penalty spot late into the second half, after Mark Kelechi had grabbed the opener for the visitors midway into the second half.

Taiwo Oloyede played for Stores between 1988 and 1993, winning an FA Cup medal and helping the club reach the semi-final of the CAF Champions League.

The former captain of the club pleaded with warring parties to sheathe  their swords, adding that Stores could still rekindle memories of old if properly managed.

“My prayer has been to see Stores return back; it is the club of the people and shouldn’t die,” Oloyede said.

“People are waiting to see the team stabilise. So, I want to beg the family and everybody involved to bury their hatchet and allow the club return to their glorious days.

“Everything that happened is history; let us move forward. The old players will meet to ensure that the club gets the desired support. We must give our input as well. All stakeholders must ensure that they bring Stores back to the glory days.

“We want the club back in the Premier League because that is where they belong. They should be playing against the likes of Enyimba and Kano Pillars.”

Former Stores forward, Abdul Sule, expressed happiness at the return of the club.

Sule, who played for the club in the 1990s, said, “The trouble had already started just before I left the club. But it was after I left that it escalated.  It’s nice to have Stores back and of course they may not be the same old Stores but bringing back the name is good.”

The former Eagles defender added that playing for the Lagos club was akin to playing for the national team.

“Putting on a Stores jersey was like representing the nation and it gingered you to give your best to the club.  The supporters boosted our morale, nobody wanted to make mistakes, so we played very good games.

“I don’t really know these set of players but Stores is always going to be Stores. During our time, there was a lot of money involved in the team so we had confidence and we were motivated,” Sule added.

Wakilu Oyenuga, a former captain of the club in the 1980s, was delighted to see the club back as well.

The UK-based ex-player, who was famed for his aerial prowess, said, “I was in Nigeria few years back for a meeting to see how Stores can come back. I am happy to learn that it has come to pass. I wish them well and will be willing to play my part to see them return to the elite league again,” Oyenuga said.

However, surviving in a difficult football terrain in Nigeria is one major battle Stores must fight if they hope to bring back the sweet memories of the past.

How they achieve this will ultimately determine how far they may be able to go once more.

A club fan, who pleaded anonymity, said, “The only similarity the Stores I watched on Sunday (February 16) share  with the Stores I used to know in the 1980s is the name.

“The boys didn’t seem motivated financially. How can they make a headway without adequate funding?”

That is a question for the owners of Stores and for every supporter of the club, who wants to relight the extinguished flame once again.

-Punch