At the height of their fame they were probably the most beloved football club in the country, but certain issues, not least of which was family feud, ensured that one of Nigeria’s most traditional sides went completely out of existence.
But after many years of delays and failed promises, Stationery Stores are finally back in Nigeria’s soccer firmament. Variously known as ‘Super Stores’ ‘Flaming Flamingoes, the club founded in 1958 by Israel Adebajo rode the waves from the late 1960s, belonging in the same league as other traditional clubs like Enugu Rangers, Bendel Insurance, IICC Shooting Stars as it then was, Mighty Jets etc.
Several of these clubs have seen their fortunes plummet over the intervening years. Bendel Insurance have been marooned in the lower division of Nigerian league for many years. Shooting Stars have joined them there. Jets have since faded from the radar. Only Rangers still hang on in the top flight.
Howbeit, it is a cheery piece of news for Stationery Stores’ old faithful that the club has re-entered the fray albeit in the lower division having bought Union Bank’s slot. Their emergence is almost surefire bet to rekindle some old rivalries in Nigerian football. For instance last Thursday’s match against 3SC (Shooting Stars) witnessed perhaps the largest turnout of fans in Onikan Stadium in a very long time. Although it is a far cry from what used to obtain when these sides battled both on and off the field in the 1970s and 1980s, it is certainly a place to begin as it was rivalries like this one that made Nigeria club football exciting in those halcyon days.
Back then Stores won the Challenge Cup (now Federation Cup) four times in 1967, 1968, 1982 and 1990. Its last hurray was in winning the league in 1992, just before all the problems that led to the eventual demise of the club started cropping up.
One of the stalwarts of the club Yomi Peters attempts to capture the euphoria of seeing ‘Flaming’ back in the fray.
“I m so happy I can’t really describe the feeling,” gushes Peters a former player and coach of Stores.
“Clubs like Bendel Insurance, 3SC are in the same league with us; we were rivals in those days and we are rivals again now. I believe that this will have the effect of bringing fans back to the stadium. They will want to come and see Stores playing 3SC for instance. In this regard I think it will be a good thing for our football, making it strong and attractive again.
“I can tell you that Stores are back and back forever. The problems are in the past now; you saw our last two matches and in spite of all the pressure we still did well. The match against 3SC on Thursday would have proven that this time we are back for good.”
Ebitimi Collins virtually epitomised Stationery Stores from the late 1980s. ‘Babwire’ as he was widely known could not hide his joy that his beloved club is finally back.“I can’t say it all. I just give God the glory that He has done in a twinkle of an eye what seemed so difficult all these years,” says Collins who is an assistant coach in the new outfit.
“I can tell you that it was such a sad situation before now. Many people used to ask me ‘when will Stationery Stores come back? Even people used to call from abroad. ‘I just reply then I don’t know’ But today we are back.
“We hope to recapture some of our best moments like the 1990 Challenge Cup final against Rangers International in Lagos which we won. I recall the coach then telling me that if I missed the cup that year I may not win it again. Thank God we won. Now we are back we want to reach for the stars again.”
Jonathan Akpoborie did not play for Stores but he played against them and his response further serves to underscore the iconic status of the club in the country.
“Oh wonderful! Wonderful! Akpoborie enthuses. I played my last game in Nigeria before going to Europe against Stores in 1988. It was in the Challenge Cup.
“I’m excited for them. I do hope they’re able to make it to the premier division so we can begin to see the glory days of Nigerian football recaptured.”
By: Vincent Eboigbe
