Julius OkorieHe would have been 60 this year. He would have retired from football. Perhaps he would have ventured into coaching, perhaps he would have dusted his certificate as a Pontifical Lateran University trained lawyer and teamed up with another learned fellow to open a chamber.
How Time Flies:
Join our WhatsApp ChannelPerhaps he would have decided against going into legal practice whether solo or in conjunction with another learned fellow and ventured into business instead, perhaps into importation of sports wears from Germany where he was based.
Perhaps he would have opted to float an academy to groom talented players like himself to take over the pitch and dazzle just like he did.
Perhaps, perhaps just perhaps but alas only his memories lingers in the minds of his family members, friends, former teammates, fans and indeed his dear Nation Nigeria.
Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji, paid the supreme price while serving the nation, playing for the national team against Angola on 12th August, 1989 in a World Cup qualifier at the national Stadium Surulere, Lagos, a tragic event that has remained indelible in our national history.
Who would have known what was coming?
The day had started with a lot of expectations, lots of permutations and anxiety associated with Super Eagles match against any African country.
Nigeria’s perennial claim of being giant of Africa is always a subject of debate, so at any given opportunity, other African countries want to prove the statement wrong and so when any challenge is against Nigeria, they tend to give more than 100% if only to prove the statement wrong.
That has rubbed off on sports over the years so every match, even if it is a friendly versus Nigeria, it is a serious business, the tension and anxiety is real and you can feel it.
On this occasion it was a World Cup qualifier against Palancra Negras of Angola leading to the 1990 World Cup, Italia 90.
Expectedly, every space in the 40,000 capacity National Stadium had been taken as early as 11 am for a match billed for late afternoon.
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In fact, the last count revealed that 60,000 fans were actually on ground on that day. when eventually the match kicked off, it was a high tempo one, the expectation was very high on both sides and the Paul Hamilton tutored Eagles had all the big names lined up including current caretaker coach of the Super Eagles, Austin Eguavoen, Samson Siasia, late former Super Eagles coach Stephen kesshi who interestingly scored the only goal of the match in the 44th minute and Etim Esin just to mention a few.
The 44th minute goal though a relief for expectant Nigerian fans, did not reduce the tempo of the match with the Angolans fighting to cancel the goal and the Eagles defending on one hand and on the other hand seeking opportunity to increase the tally.
Painful Moment:
Then in the 77th minute it happened, Okwaraji who has been busier than the bee suddenly slumped on the pitch, prayers poured in from left, right and centre in the hope that the 25-year-old midfielder who put playing for the nation above every other thing could be revived, unfortunate that never happened after medics had rushed in to ferry him out of the pitch for medical attention.
It didn’t take long before confirmation filtered in that Umudioka born multilingual national hero has been lost, the stampede that followed left five other fans dead.
The NFF and of course the team he played and died for never forgets and remembers this every August 12 just like it did this year via @thenff “Today like every 12th August since 1989, we remember Samuel Okwaraji who tragically passed on while playing a FIFA World Cup Qualifier vs Angola. Sam displayed high patriotism while playing for Nigeria, an example that is still relevant in the Nigeria of today”
It’s been 35 years since this tragic incident and every year, the football federation, the nation, fans and relatives alike remember that painful moment like yesterday.
Well Deserved Memorabilia
A call was made for him to be immortalised after the incident with suggestion that a National Football Academy be established and named after him. That did not see that light of the day but a statue was erected at the national stadium in his honour and commissioned on the 12th of August, 2009 in front of the same stadium where he died.
Primebusiness.africa, visited the statue this week for a sober reflection. The Statue of course is still there with impressive tribute publicly eulogising a national hero who died trying to lift the nation.
It is now playing hosts to athletes who wish to just observe some rest after training, those who just want to visit the national stadium, just to feed their eyes, those trekking from Breweries to Ojulegba via stadium, who choose to sit there for a while, regain their strength and forge ahead because according to them” increasing cost of transportation calls for improved trekking when not in a hurry.”
With a three serving as an umbrella over the statue, it has become a place to rest for a short while to garner strength and continue your journey; even traffic wardens take turn to seat down there intermittently to escape the scorching sun.
With the tree serving like the mustard seed that provides a place for birds to perch, the base providing shelter for all who wish to rest for a while and the statue trumpeting national appreciation posthumously for a young man who died on active service , it may be safe to say Okwaraji is still serving the nation even in death.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
