Darts

Darts section

The game of Darts was introduced into Benin Club as far back as the early Seventies (70s). And this was courtesy of the large expatriate population in our midst at that time. For the records, Darts is a very popular pub game in foreign climes and our expatriate community comprising staffers of Guinness Nig. Plc. BLCC (A Telecoms Giant), Sem-Edo Wire Industries, Edok-Eter- Mandilas Ltd. (A Foremost Civil Engineering Construction Company). And some UNIBEN lecturers experienced no difficulty in establishing this fabulous indoor game in Benin Club which rapidly attracted a sizeable number of Members from the Nigerian Members of the Club. On a lighter side, it is said that the Game of Darts goes down very well with rounds of chilled lager. And more often than not, Darts boards are usually situated around bars. This was the case with the Darts Section of old as it was more or less attached to the Main Bar in the Main Club building.

The Darts Section has come a long way since inception and some of the Members who held sway here (before the Millennium) include late Mr. John Omo, Ian Forster, Adams Lawal, Harris Unuigbe, Ken Enahoro, and Osayomore Joseph. We also had Mr. and Mrs. W. Otabor, Cyril Okosieme, Ambassador Emma Nnaji, James Nnaji, Ochuko Ukueku, Gabriel Osemeikhian and a host of others. Coming to the game of Darts itself, Darts is very simple to learn and very easy to play. The traditional Games are TDB and 501 and basically, the Game is all about aiming at numbers on a round board. How prolific you become therefore is simply a matter of how proficient you are at aiming. Sports is a dynamic activity and today to encourage variety, variants of the 01 Game have been introduced and these include 201, 301, 701 and others.

As a result of the growing number of Members, the Darts Section was relocated to a more spacious site on top of the table tennis Section in 2013 during the administration of Late Chief Sam Iredia. Since then, activities have continued to blossom. At this point, we must recognize some of the Modern day entrants into the Section who have made significant contributions to the glory of the Section in one way or the other. They include Messrs i.e. Enzewigbo, Vitalis Okpalanozie, Late Gideon Ezeudu ( Aka SB) , Comrade Fred Omo - Igbinoba ( Deceased) , Sunny Nketa, Lawrence Umeh, Ike Mbaka, Jude Onwuka and Chief Isaac Ikekhuame, to mention a few. Emblazoned on the walls in the Darts Section are the words ‘’Darts is Life’’. But in an irony of fate, death has inflicted much pain on the affairs of this Section resulting in the unceremonious demise of some of its illustrious Members. Even then, the Darts Section shall continue to survive and exist. The Section was until recently led by Comrade Fred Omo-Igbinoba As Captain (Now Deceased), Chief Laz Aniagbaoso as Vice-Captain (now Acting Captain), Pastor Julius Oluwole as Treasurer and Engr. Gabriel Osemeikhian as Secretary. Finally, this Section is where it is today as a result of good leadership over the years. Since inception, the Section has enjoyed healthy and progressive leadership and some of those who have had the Priviledge to lead the Section include:

Adams Lawal (In 1988), Harris Unuigbe, C.Y. Udoh, Ochuku Ukueku (In 1992), Uyi, Bazuaye, Titus Okhuo, Ngozi Ebeye (In 1995/96), Osayomore Joseph, Innocent Enzewigho, Sam Avwiaka, Ayo Ogungusi, Gideon Ezeudu, Barr. Vitalis Okpalanozie, Comrade Fred Omo-Igbinoba, I.K. Mbaka, Arthur Robinson (2017-2019) and Amb. Emma Nnaji (As Sole Administrator in 2014- 2015).