The man popularly called coach Araba came into this world like any other ordinary human being. He grew like every other child and exploited the adventures of life as a youth. But as if fate wanted him to be an unknown star, when he might have left this sinful world as a man, he zeroed down his God given talents to conquer the possibilities of making a living with his talent.
Churchill George Fortunatus Spiff, Aka coach Araba, was said to be a multitalented man that have suddenly left this sin soaked world, when he lasted.
A dancer, sprinter, footballer and you cannot take it away from him, a knowledgeable great coach of this generation. He came into the world like every other person and conquered with his multiple talents in virtually all what was given to him by his creator, talent wise.
As a sprinter he made Rivers State proud in the 100 metres and 200 metres relay races, javelin, 100 metres and 200 metres races. It is one record that coach Araba was the fastest racer in the then Eastern region in his days.
Let it be known today that coach Araba was the pioneer captain of Red Devils and Sharks football club of Port Harcourt. He graduated from a player to become a coach and produced the likes of Peter Rufai, Idah Peterside, Imama Amapakabo, Samson Siasia, Finidi George, Binebi Nunie and a host of other international players.
If not for anything else, credit should be given to Churchill George Fortunatus Spiff, Aka coach Araba, for single-handedly producing Peterside Idah as a goalkeeper for the Nigeria nation. Though he no longer plays but he had contributed his bit to the super Eagles and Sharks in his good old days, when he found little Peterside Idah watching his (coach Araba) training at Baptist field on daily basis.
It was on the training ground that Peter Rufai was known as a player of coach Araba team, not as a goalkeeper until the original goalkeeper of the team in a match refused to tend the post that Peter Rufai the great dodo mayana got his name by tending the post that day. Hence he eventually took over the post as his position of play in coach Araba’s team. All was made possible by coach Araba now late. ###
Allanso Jonathan Allanso
