He is one of the brightest talent to have come
out of Africa, the star was dimmed on the 12th of August, 1989, while playing
for his nation in a 2nd round Group c, Italia World Cup, qualifier against the parlanca
negras of Angola, He slumped and died right there on the pitch, at National
stadium, Surulere Lagos, He surrendered to what the doctors called congestive
heart failure. Though the green Eagle’s won the hard fought battle 1-0,( the
goal was scored by Stephen Keshi in the 44th minute) But lost the sole world
cup ticket to the indomitable lion’s of Cameroon. The lost ticket was one
of his numerous dreams which the cold hands of death did not allow him to
fulfill, as he was unable to complete his PhD thesis and also his dream to play
in the then prestigious Belgium League was unfulfilled, (just sign a record
450,000 dollars with a Belgium
club). And many other promises made to his team mates about securing for them a
move to Europe.
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| 1964 -1989 |
He was
born in Orlu Eastern Nigeria to the Okwaraji family On May 19, 1964 and he
shone like a million star by passing his WASC examination in flying colors and
he got admitted into the University of Rome to study law, where his prodigious
footballing talent was spotted by the Eagle eye of the AS Roma Scout and was
promptly signed on while he was still a student in 1984 (at age of 20) this
marked the beginning of a short but illustrous footballing career.
In
just five years, he was able to play for NK dynamo Zagreb, Vfb Stuttgart and
SSV ulm 1846, In the process he bagged the bachelor and masters degree in International
Law and can speak five languages fluently that is English, German, Spanish,
Italian and Igbo language, this shows the amount of courage in his large heart
and the fact that he started playing career abroad before coming back home to
play for Nigeria and not the other way round summarizes the potentials in him.
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| okwaraji in jersey no 6. nig vs ang 12/8/89 |
On
that fateful Saturday afternoon, Nigerians were trooping out in their thousands
all roads lead to National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. By 12noon the stadium was jam packed
and was overcrowded at the 4pm, expectations were high, At stake is the then
elusive world cup ticket and a win for the Green Eagles was non Negotiable
which a draw in Yaoundé in a fortnight guarantee Nigeria’s first World cup
berth, All media attention was on one Man, A dreadlock Nigeria No 6, Samuel
Sochukwuma Okwaraji because of the incident that occurred prior to the match
between his club SSV ulm 1846, and the then NFA chairman, captain obakpolor of
blessed memory, that before they can release him Nigeria will have to pay 45,
000 dollars, the amount the club will lose in gate taking while he was away
with the national team and the chairman brokered a deal of 15,000 dollars for
him to be released but the player was reported to have charged at his club
managers, that he will be representing Nigeria without paying a dime, he was
quoted by Obakpolor as saying “I am a lawyer you know and signed to play
football for certain conditions but I don’t think it included reselling my
services to my country, you or your club cannot stop me from playing for my
country, let me tell you, I am going to represent my country in the world cup
in Italy Whether you like it or not” end of quote.
He
left the club and embarked on a journey of no return to represent his country.
He lasted only 77 minutes on the
pitch before he slumped and died, lying on the turf very close to Bala Ali and
an Angola No 4 jersey player; his level commitment, patriotsm, Discipline, Professionalism
is unparalleled and a role model among his mates, he never hold the country to
ransom over match bonus, flight or return ticket money he would rather pay his
way and not ask for refund or any match bonus.
Samuel, your life seems short but it was eventful and memorable, still fresh in my memory is your thunderous strike against Cameroon
in maroc 88, which resulted in one of the fastest goals in the AFCON history,
and your exploits at the Seoul 88 Olympics.
The
sporting world still missed you, but it is your Aged mother and kids left behind
that missed you most.
The government numerous unfulfilled promise made nonsense of your sacrifice and love for your nation and they cant even keep to their pledge of retiring the jersey no 6 which you wore last playing for your nation, in your honor and in that of those passionate seven fans that died with you due failure of the security personel to control the over crowded stadium on that fateful day.
The government numerous unfulfilled promise made nonsense of your sacrifice and love for your nation and they cant even keep to their pledge of retiring the jersey no 6 which you wore last playing for your nation, in your honor and in that of those passionate seven fans that died with you due failure of the security personel to control the over crowded stadium on that fateful day.
Adieu Sochukmma.
Nigeria Team list
on that fateful day:
1. David Ngodigba 2. Sadi dahiru 3.
Bala ali 4. Stephen Keshi 5. Andrew uwe 6. Samuel okwaraji 7.
Osaro Obabaifo 8. Austin Eguavon 9. Samson Siasia 10. Etim esin 11. Uchenna Okafor (RIP).
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