I had always wanted to be at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium for many reasons. One of those reasons was to gain entrance into the beautiful edifice I see on TV. I looked forward to the return leg of the CAF Confederations Cup tie between Enyimba and Rivers United in Port Harcourt. I was in a meeting but had to leave the meeting midway, the first time I did that in almost one year. I got to where members of SWAN (Sports Writers Association of Nigeria) in Abia agreed to converge at 10 a.m and waited till we boarded a bus to Port Harcourt
When we got to the Stadium’s gate, the security men insisted that we walk in, after which our vehicle would come in. We walked more than 300 metres on foot. As we walked into the stadium, I looked for possible exits in case of chaos at the end of the game but I thought “well, it is a closed door game”.
The game was a tension-soaked duel which was later decided by penalties. I wondered how we would leave the stadium since the home team lost. Well, I reminded myself that it was a closed door game and the heavy security presence gave me hope. What about our vehicle being about 300 metres away? I am still fit and can run. My fears were just imaginations as nothing happened
On our way home, we encountered many security check points at Oyigbo; we did not remember there is a curfew in that region from 7 pm. We had to stop at all the checkpoints in Oyigbo. Some of my colleagues had to regularly go to explain to the officers on duty why journalists are on essential duty. Happily, before they let us go, sometimes we exchanged pleasantries and left on a good note
As we were approaching Aba, the thought on my mind was how I would go home. I live in a place that might be regarded as a glorified ghetto and it was not ideal to go home at that time and on a Sunday
I made contacts to see if I could stay at a friend’s place in town, but they all were not available. There and then, I knew I had no other option but to go home. I refused to look at the time again so that I would not be restless. I boarded a bus to a junction where I would board another vehicle for a distant journey back to my home. Unfortunately, there was no vehicle in sight, people had retired to their homes early; typical of a Sunday evening
I knew I had to walk. I could not switch off my phone because the lights would draw attention to it, on the other hand I prayed it would not ring. I confirmed when I started to walk in order to keep records
I started walking as if I had just graduated from a military training college. The streets were dry and as I moved down to my enclave, it seemed as if I was making an audacious journey into the unknown. I prayed countless times. Whenever I got past a street, I would say “Thank God I got here, now God please help me to get past this one too”.
I felt the silence of a busy road and almost danced to the drum of insects. I wore a white shirt, so I could be seen from afar, but I was not deterred. At times, I changed my steps to walk like the proverbial wounded lion. I felt strength in me as I marched on with confidence.
Every light on the horizon was a gleamer of hope. Sadly, it was only the dim lights and no living soul to greet. I had the hope that I would get to a local vigilante check point and I rehearsed what I would say. Unfortunately, they were not at that usual spot, just before a hotspot in the area. I knew I had been left again in the hands of God and his Angels–I was always there
Finally, I came close to my area and I heaved a sigh of relief. At a particular pub, I saw smoke ascending as if a sacrifice had been offered. It was not a sacrifice, it was some people, giving food to their lungs, you know what I mean; burnt offering.
I arrived home at 10:13 pm. Finally, I was home. As I opened my door, I walked straight to my reservoir of media tags and hanged the tag for the day there. It was symbolic–the job was done. It was a 33-minute walk of horror
What a journey! In the end, the joy I had in the day submerged the night of horror
Wow, Artistic. great work.
Yet i think U would have captured the events on the Field to
some extent, connecting it to ice the john experience since the purpose of journey itself was the FOOTBALL GAME game, as capture by the Title.
Overall, it was a sweet and captivating Piece.
#Kudos!!!
Good observations. Thank you for reading too. I’ll do that in my subsequent reports
That was the Enyimba spirit in you.
I would recall that I faced the same fate the first time I saw an Enyimba match live in that same Adokie stadium in 2016. My own case was even more horrible because it rained in both PH and Aba.
I think I reach house by 10:30pm.