Ebonyi football fans have remembered Samuel Okwaraji, the late Super Eagles midfield gem who died during Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Angola on August 12, 1989.
Okwaraji, then with Berchem Football Club of Belgium, slumped from congestive heart failure in 77th minute of the “Italy 1990” world cup qualifier played in Lagos.
Nigeria later won the match 1–0 but the incident continues to cast a grim shadow on its football due to Okwaraji’s positive impact in his brief stint with the Super Eagles.
Jerome Ezeoba, a Football Historian recalls that he was inside the “packed” National Stadium, Lagos watching the match played under a scorching August sun.
“Okwaraji’s slumping was so sudden as he was running rings in the midfield from the match’s onset.
“The medics at the stadium tried resuscitating him to no avail and he was rushed to the hospital where the grim news of his passing was
eventually broken to a dumb–founded nation,”.
Peter Afamefuna , Former Chairman of Chelsea Football Club fans club in Abakaliki said the stories he heard about Okwaraji really motivated him in life.
“I grew learning that he was unarguably, the most patriotic footballer Nigeria ever produced despite being a Masters Degree holder in Law.
“The stories of how he paid for his airfares to national assignments and rejected match bonuses seem like fairy tales but have been confirmed to be true.,”
Chief Benneth Okolo, a Businessman and Football Enthusiast said that beyond patriotism and humility, Okwaraji was a midfield jewel who thrilled with breathtaking skills.
“Okwaraji commanded the Super Eagles midfield with eye–catching, football juggling skills before the likes of Augustine Okocha took the centre stage.
“He was a scintillating goalscorer as his thunderbolt against Cameroon in a group game of AFCON 1988, still ranks among the tournament’s all–time goals,”.
Mrs Judith Amadi, a Teacher and Native of Umudioka in Orlu, Imo rued the neglect of Okwaraji’s memories by the respective governments and the nation’s football fraternity.
“Sam as we fondly called him, laid his life for the nation as several promised made to his family from several quarters have been unfulfilled.
“”We are pained that no one talks about this football legend anymore as this was the man who brought Umudioka to national and global maps.,”
