Abell Churchill Olateru says Nigeria’s first international Waka Football outing marks the beginning of greater opportunities for the veteran football community.
President of Apapa Ajegunle All-Stars, Abell Churchill Olateru, has described Nigeria’s first international Waka Football engagement as the beginning of a new chapter for the veteran football community.
Speaking to Sportsbeat.ng at Eagles Club Sports Club, Surulere, Lagos, Olateru explained that the long history of Apapa Ajegunle All-Stars has helped members maintain strong bonds through adult football.
According to him, the club was founded in 1970 and has spent decades bringing together people from different professional backgrounds through their shared passion for the game.
“Apapa Ajegunle All-Stars was founded in 1970, so it is an old All-Stars club. We have been involved in adult football for a very long time,” Olateru said.
He noted that the relationships built over the years have made it easier for members to come together regularly to play football and participate in activities that promote friendship and togetherness.
Olateru, a retiree and former staff member of the Central Securities Clearing System in Nigeria’s capital market, said the club’s diversity has not prevented its members from sustaining their commitment to football.
He also described the international engagement as a significant experience for some members, many of whom were participating in an international sporting event for the first time.
“This is the first time some of my members are participating in international engagements, so this is just the beginning,” he added.
The occasion marked a new milestone for the group as Nigeria hosted an international Waka Football match against Rwanda at Eagles Club, Surulere, on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Waka Football is a five-a-side format in which running is prohibited and players are required to walk, with matches played over two 20-minute halves.
For Olateru and the Apapa Ajegunle All-Stars community, the event represents an opportunity to build on decades of adult football participation and explore further international engagements through the walking-football format.
