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Five Notable Moments From The UCL Trophy Tour With Clarence Seedorf

Year after year, world renowned beer brand Heineken, continues to reinforce its devotion to heightening the experience of the UEFA Champions League for Nigerian football fans.  

It achieved this reputation by serving as a magnet that pulled local UEFA Champions League fans closer to the international games using an experiential process that involves a showcase of the UCL trophy to the public, as well as leveraging the nostalgia that comes with fans interacting with past UCL greats.

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This year, fans were greeted with the presence of legendary Dutch player Clarence Seedorf, as he embarked on a tour to Lagos and Abuja. Celebrated for achieving four UCL Trophy wins with three different clubs, Seedorf impacts a certain kind of star quality that is widely venerated.

Here are some of the tour’s highlights:

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Watching the stars with a star

For two days that stretched between April 12 and 13, a select group of football fans accompanied Clarence Seedorf to the viewing centres located at Landmark Event Centre in Lagos, and the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja).

With an array of activities fused with the cool ambience of the viewing centres, the gathering was an avenue for fans to meet up with Seedorf to secure autographs, take pictures with the legend, and celebrate the wins of their favourite team in grand style.

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Trophy brag

It is one thing to be graced by a UCL great like Seedorf, who started his UCL journey at 16, but it’s a more indulging feeling when one beholds the fiercely contested UEFA Champions League trophy in the flesh.

The current trophy has been continually swapped between several winning teams since 2006.

According to fans and guests, beholding the 24-inch silver cup was the holy grail experience, with many registering snapshots on their mobile devices and launching their rare photo collections on social media to the envy of their peers.

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The Heineken Face-off/Thrilling Five-a-side Game

Like you would only expect from football legends, Clarence Seedorf and other football stars put a glorious display of footballing action for passionate football fans who had long awaited his arrival to Nigeria.

Dressed in green jersey and representing team Heineken, a smiling charismatic Seedorf impressed as he played alongside Supply Chain Director NB Plc, Martin Kochi, Finance Director NB Plc, Rob Kleinjan and former footballer, Patrick van Uden against a Team Nigeria side captained by Afrobeat super star Davido with Jay Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Afro R&B singer Darey, Rapper MI and the Marketing Director NB Plc, Emmanuel Oriakhi. 

Surely, this is one novelty match that will stay indelible in the hearts of many who were present.

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Celebrities who went with the flow

From the get-go, Nigerian celebrities in the entertainment and football communities identified with the UCL legend. From the warm press conference reception he received to the various media tours he headlined, to just cooling off steam with fans at the viewing centre, these notable faces remained a staple throughout the tour’s run.

They include Do2dtun, VJ Adams, Reekado Banks, Wofaifada, Chuey Chu and of course Davido, Darey, MI, Taribo West, Daniel Amokachi and Okocha who played in the Heineken Face-off.

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Visit to The Honourable Minister of Sports 

Aside from the fun-packed aspects of the tour, an essential part of the UCL Trophy Tour was the courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare.

During his brief stay in Abuja, the former Real Madrid star was warmly received by the Honourable Minister at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium where issues of great significance to grassroots sports development were raised and thoroughly discussed. The 46-year-old former coach of Cameroon talked about his commitment to the development of football on the African continent. 

Did you see the UCL Ambassador while he was in Nigeria or get a chance to take a picture with the Trophy? What was the most memorable moment from the tour for you? Share on social media using the #CheerstoAllFans.

Encomium

Written by Encomium

A media, tech and events company.

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