Israel, Nigeria Honour First Foreign Coach Of Nigerian National Team, Showcase Young Talents In Tournament.

By Ferdinand Olise

The Embassy of Israel in Nigeria has launched the inaugural Jerry Bet Halevi Cup, a football tournament that pays tribute to a remarkable man whose legacy is woven into the very fabric of Nigerian football.

Jerry Bet Halevi, was a legendary Israeli Coach, who had the unique distinction of being the first Head Coach of the Nigerian national team. His passion, discipline, and vision helped shape the early foundations of the sport in Nigeria, leaving an enduring legacy that continues to inspire generations.

Talents were showcased as players at the two-day tournament at the weekend in Abuja, featured players from eight teams selected across the six Area Councils. These Teams were; Gwarinpa, Gwagwa, Apo-Dutse, Kubwa, Lifecamp, Mararaba, Bwari, and Gwagwalada.

Speaking during the tournament, organized in collaboration with the Daniel Amokachi Foundation, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Michael Freeman, said the tournament is more than a sporting event.

“It is a celebration of friendship, a recognition of shared history, and a testament to the strong and growing bond between Nigeria and Israel. Through sports, and football in particular, we are reminded of a powerful truth: Football unites us. Fans do not care about differences in tribe, religion, or geography. They care about heart, about commitment, about the pride of wearing their team’s colors. In a world too often divided, football shows us what unity looks like”, he said.

Ambassador Freeman therefore expressed his profound gratitude to Daniel Amokachi and the Daniel Amokachi Foundation, for their leadership, partnership, and unwavering support in making the tournament a reality.

“Their dedication to youth, to talent development, and to using sport as a force for good exemplifies everything this event stands for. As we honour Jerry Bet Halevi’s life and legacy, we also look forward with ambition and optimism. We hope this will be the first of many initiatives that celebrate the rich football connections between our two great nations. Nigeria and Israel share deep ties in innovation, culture, and now, more visibly than ever, in sport. May this tournament inspire young players across Nigeria, strengthen our bilateral friendship, and remind us of the extraordinary impact one individual can make across borders and generations”, Ambassador Freeman added.

Meanwhile, the Football legend, and an ex-Nigerian international Player, Ambassador Daniel Amokachi, underscored how football is a unifier, noting that his Foundation, the Daniel Amokachi Foundation, saw it fit to collaborate with the Israeli Embassy in Nigeria to have a spot to celebrate the first ever foreign coach of the Nigerian national team.

“A lot of people didn’t know that the first coach that coached in the 61 to 62 was an Israeli.And this year will be his anniversary since they lost him. We sat down with the Israeli Ambassador, and we decided to have a mini street 7v7 tournament to celebrate him and to bring that bond unifying factor with the Israeli people and the rest of Nigeria.

“We brought a selected team from eight of the Area Councils, from Gwagwalada to Gwagwa to Bwari to Apo-Dutse, Gwarimpa, Kubwa and all that. So, we’re going to have a two days event, which at the end of the day, I think we’ll see quality in the football that we have in Nigeria in development of sports, and fortunate for us we have few football agents who are in the country and who are here to see if they can see one or two talents, and that will be good for youth development”, he said.

“We work with the Area Councils and we get a coach from each Area Council to select players from three to four to five to six teams, and form a team so that the love goes everywhere because, like I said, it’s a unifying factor. We are all developing in football and so far we can see one or two, three good talents. That’s what football is all about”, Amokachi said.

He therefore urged the players to first make the name behind their shirt proud.

“You know, it’s a name that is behind your shirt and the badge that is very important”, he said.

On his part, a football scout agent, Mr Marko Saranlinna, from the Fortis Nova Agency, Finland, said Ambassador Daniel Amokachi is his longtime friend, and expressed happiness for the chance to take
two or three days to spend in the event.

“I love this kind of football, this is the grassroot football on its real meaning and purpose. So, it’s a big honor when I can have a chance to be in this event here. This event is a special event because Mr. Cherry has been the first one who has been opening the doors for us foreigners who come to work in football in Nigeria.
So somewhere he’s the door opener for all us scouts, coaches, agents who come to here.
So that way it’s wonderful that this kind of event is arranged to respect his life work”, he said.

He urged that the players keep working, and play always for the team.

“That’s the best way when you want to show yourself, you help your team and football is a team game,
so that’s the best way to do it. Nigeria is full of talent, and they deserve to be seen and get the chances.
So, these kind of opportunities are the best ones for that. Sport makes the world more unique and football is the biggest sport in the world, so sure, we all need to use sport to make the world better”, he added.

Speaking on behalf of the Coaches at the tournament, Coach Samson, Agbene, Agbamu, encourage Unity among football lovers, and the players while playing on and off the pitch.

“My players, and players who have come, who are playing a Unity game, we need to understand first that it’s about the round object, and the essence of playing the round object is to unify the societies. You don’t come and make it differently”, he said.

He highlighted areas where they face challenges in the course of their work.

“You come in, you have ideas, you have plenty of things to give, but you don’t have what it takes. What it means is, as you’re coming, you must improvise. We’re not talking about the pitch, sometimes you have a pitch that over 30 teams are managed.

“The players are free, want to play, but there is no facility, either the playing facility, or the equipment.
There are so many. Then again, you have players coming from different traumatized backgrounds, maybe because of insecurity, maybe because of the home front.
You, at this level, serve as a Psychologist, serve as a Coach, proper coach, so many things.
So these are serious challenges, what do you think they have in common?
We need people who understand this game, we need people who are willing to invest, we need the government to give us an enabling environment for both those willing to play, and those willing to invest”, he said.

Speaking on behalf of the players, Aguzie Obinna Darlington, playing for Gwarinpa, expressed gratitude to GOD for the opportunity to be a footballer.

“So many people wish they had this talent, but I’m privileged to play this football”, he said.

He thanked the organisers of the tournament, stating that it’s an opportunity for them to showcase their talents.

The Chairman, Bauchi State Football Association, and Team Cordinator, Super Eagles, Mr Pascal Patrick, recognized the importance of the collaboration between the Israeli Embassy and the Daniel Amokachi Foundation in uniting people towards peaceful co-existence.

“The Israeli Embassy in collaboration with Daniel Amokachi Foundation is a team to honorJerry, the Israeli Coach, the first Coach that coached the Nigerian national team. Most Nigerians do not have that history.

“Most of the players came from various Area Councils to showcase their talent. It’s kind of friendly competition, which is to unite people. The essence is to get people to come together from various places, because we need peace in everywhere we are”, he said.

The tournament witnessed young talents in display, with the youths displaying their skills to make their team proud.