Novelty Football Match: Jerry Needam Scores ‘Record’ Goal To Honour Late Classmate

Unknown to many, the name, Jerry Needam may be heading to the Guinness Book of Records for the right reasons.  Not for  journalistic excellence which the Publisher of National Network newspaper has successfully and consistently made his mark.

He set a record scoring in a novelty football match, at the soccer pitch of Kono Secondary School, Kono, Khana Local Government Area, Rivers State, last Saturday where he schooled and graduated way back in 1985.  The match was organized in honour of late Douglas Nwimama Oko, the school’s sports Prefect in the class of 1985, who died on January 15, 2021 and was interred on May 15, 2021.  Jerry and Douglas were close friends and shared many things in common way back in school.

Jerry Needam who is the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Sole Administrator of Rivers State Waste Management Agency, Bro. Felix Obuah took to the pitch and relived old memories he usually shared with the late Oko when they both played for the school soccer team.

As the saying goes, Old Soldier Never Dies, They Simply Fade, and at the blast of the referee’s whistle, Jerry made a one, two touch with the ball and the crowd roared in excitement.  Perhaps, the defense line took him for granted or simply an act of respect, but Jerry moved on, unperturbed and unleashed a thunderous kick that sailed into the net. A goal! In less than 5 minutes, scoring the best goal until the referee blasted the final whistle. Spectators  acknowledged that the swiftness and precision of that goal has entered into the annals of the goals score on the field.

Pastor Jerry Needam who was declared man of the match, later told his story: “I participated in a football match in honour of my good friend, brother and classmate in Secondary School, Late Douglas Nwimama Oko.  I was the Senior Prefect while he was the Games Prefect.

Interestingly, the football match was held on the same football field of the Secondary School we both attended in 1985.  Many tried to stop me, but I scored a sensational goal, rated as the goal of the match and described as one of the best goals in recent times.

I was celebrated by all. Iam now thinking of joining a professional team. Good night, my friend, brother and classmate, late Douglas Nwimama Oko!