I began to follow sports, particularly football since 1980, when I was a teenager.
Peter Jaja, now Peter Rufai, attended Municipal Primary School, now Churchill State School, while I attended St. Cyprian’s State School, Hospital Road. Rufai was one of my best goalkeepers in Rivers State, then.
He kept for Government Technical College (GTC), Rainbow, Port Harcourt and some other good goalkeepers like , Sampson Alatoru, of Okrika Grammar School ( OGS) later NPRC and late Cyril Bamson of Baptist High School, Port Harcourt, who later kept for NEPA of Port Harcourt.
I knew all these notable goalkeepers during then functional Oriji Secondary School Football Competition.
What attracted me to Rufai was his good reflection at goal post, good sense of humour and possesses quality of a leader.
The last time we met in Port Harcourt, during one of his scouting programmes, he told me “Tonye, don’t worry when I come back to Port Harcourt we will see and talk properly”, and I said Okay, I never knew I will not see him again.
It is so painful and devastating, when I heard about his death. I pray God to receive his soul. “Dodo Mayana” as fondly called, may your soul Rest In Peace.
But my regrets was that I had not had a conducive atmosphere to remind him of one significant scenes that would have made him laugh.
In 1980 I can’t remember the month, when OGS, Okrika and GTC Rainbow, Port Harcourt, were playing semi final of the Secondary Schools Football Competition, at Old Stadium, ( the Stadium was at Lagos Bus Stop , where NNPC Filling Station is located). Rufai was their goalkeeper.
At the middle of second half of the game his players began to play rubbish, him Rufai got angry with his players, his reaction was to stand by the right pole like a dole and leave the goal post open.
OGS players took advantage and were scoring. Rufai’s duty was to bring out the ball from the net to center. It was actually interesting and amusing, the game ended 3-0 in favour of OGS.
Rufai, you have created a vacuum in my heart, I am also praying God to keep me strong.
Adieu!
