By
Tokunbo Ojo
On that hot and dry Saturday, August 12, 1989, none of us knew that we were walking through the valley of death. Trooping out in thousands, soccer-loving Nigerians filled every available space at the national stadium, Surulere, four hours before the commencement of an important soccer game for Green Eagles of Nigeria. Green Eagles versus Angolan national team in the second to the last Group C match in the African zone Italian 90 World Cup qualifying series. Having lost 1-2 away to Gabon, it was a match that Green Eagles must win to stay in contention for the World Cup ticket, which its archrival Cameroon was also seriously fighting for.
With all seats taken at the stadium, I was glued to my father's 19 inches TV set and Panasonic radio for the live telecast and commentary of the match in a newspaper littered sitting room. Anxiously waiting to see Green Eagles beat Angola, the TV camera moved across the stadium and commentators provided update on all Eagles. Of all, Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji, was the man getting all the media attention.
From the print to the electronic media, Orlu-born enigmatic soccer star was getting attention because "unlike most African internationals," writes Emmanuel Maradas, publisher of African soccer magazine. "Sam Okwaraji came to the Nigerian football from Europe, rather than the other way around. His first club, the Italian first division side, AS Roma, signed him at the age of 20 as the young Okwaraji decided to lay aside a law degree from the University of Rome and concentrate on professional football." Born in 1964 in Orlu in the Eastern part of Nigeria, he left Nigeria in 1982 to study international law in Italy. Very actively involved in the academic pursuits, he still kept alive his dream of being Nigeria's "Michel Platini" and "Brazillian Falcao" who were both his soccer role models.
Armed with first and second degree in law, energetic Okwaraji moved to the old Yugoslavia where he played for Club Dynamo Zaghreb. With a brief stint at Dynamo, the man, who speaks Igbo, English, Italian, Spanish, German and Yugoslavian fluently, joined Austrian second division club side, Klagenfurt FC.
It was at Klagenfurt that German Stuttgart signed him for six years. Not long into the contract, he was loaned to a second division SSV-ULM 1848. His star blossomed at ULM to point that the club not play without him. "No Okwaraji, no ULM" was the popular slogan then.
It was not surprising that when he finally had the opportunity to play for Nigeria after he has sent several letters to the Nigeria Football Association without any response, the club manager asked NFA to pay "estimated cost of $45, 000" for Okwaraji's match bonus and an expected loss in the club's gate taking for the period in which Okwaraji would be on national duty.
Group Captain John Obakpolor, then newly appointed NFA Chairman, negotiated the amount to $15,000. Why would NFA agreed to cough out $15,000 on a player in an era that Obakpolor himself admitted, "we had a good pool to choose our players from. Players who distinguished themselves from others and were ready to take on anybody"? Okwaraji is more than a soccer player. He is an emblem of values that NFA, a microscopic Nigerian society, needs for development and advancement.
Honesty, dedication and accountability were among the invaluable qualities that this gifted lawyer and footballer symbolized. On numerous occasions, he paid his ways to play without asking for refund. Unlike some "bench warmers" who would hold the whole nation to ransom over "inflated" flight ticket money and arrogantly insult the intelligence of 120 millions Nigerians on BBC and Voice of America (VOA), he was committed to the true service of his nation. He was not afraid to put his career on line for his country.
He stood up to the club manager who demanded money from the NFA. " I am a lawyer you know, and signed to play football for your certain conditions," he charged at the club manager. " But I don't think it included reselling my services to my country. You or the club cannot stop me 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 and I would very much like for you to be there." A very shocked Obakpolor recollected Okwaraji saying. " Mr. Chairman, you can go I will be in Nigeria as soon as you said. I am very sorry for what happened here." Worried that the outburst could cost Okwaraji his place in the club, Obakpolor told him the implications of what he just did. But Obakpolor got one of the greatest surprises of his life.
" Mr. Chairman I realized that, but that man had no right to talk to you the way he did," Okwaraji responded. " I am a Nigerian and will die fighting for the dignity of my country." Truly to his words, he died fighting for the honour of his country. Wearing green shirt number 6 on top of white pant on that hot Saturday afternoon of August 12, he came out of the dressing room battle ready.
Full of energy, he anchored the Eagles midfield that had Etim "African Maradona" Esim, a sensational left winger, Bala Ali, and a libero, Stephen Keshi dashing forward to pull down the wall of Berlin erected by the Angolans.
Few minutes into the game, the man with the hairstyle of Rudd Guilt was flashed his first and only yellow card in international soccer for Nigeria.
"Unknown to him and the hissing spectators, the final red card was going to come before the game of death ran its full course," reported Concord newspaper Dele Momodu (now publisher of the Ovation magazine).
About 15 minutes to the end of the game, the center referee sent one of his dangerous Angolan markers off. With all whole stadium watching the red-carded Angolan arguing with the center referee, fate handled Okwaraji a red card. He slumped on the left side of the field very close to Bala Ali and another Angolan player in shirt number 4.
"Before the maddened crowd could return their gaze to the fallen hero, he had disappeared like a meteor," Momodu reminisced. " He was gone, forever!" Forever was gone, Okwaraji who astonished Nigerian fans with his amazing skill in his debutant for Eagles on January 30, 1988 at Nnamdi Azikwe stadium, Enugu. Eternally he left after he diligently serviced his fatherland with his money, skills and talents.
Barely 25 years old as at the time death snatched him, he was a great achiever. Held one of the records for the fastest goal ever scored in the African cup of Nations final. Had several honorary "man of match awards" in most games that he featured for the Green Eagles. Twice at Morocco 88 African cup of nations, he was named man of the match. Days before he died, Okwaraji, who was completing his Ph.D thesis, signed a $450,000 contract with a Belgian club.
HE is a national icon. He dreamt big for the Nigerian soccer. "As someone who came in contact with this football icon, I can say without contradictions that Sam wanted Nigeria to be established as a power in the football world," Obakpolor told sport writers at a forum to mark 12 years remembrance of Okwaraji. " Not just Africa but also in the continental world. He wanted a conducive environment created where up and coming footballers could express themselves and be recognized. He wanted vibrant, agile, youthful, energetic and resourceful national team in place at all times." Although it is 13 years after he left us, Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji still lives in our sweet memory. It's very "difficult for the Nigerian public to forget Sam Okwaraji," Stephen Keshi summed it up.
ADIEU SAMUEL SOCHUKWUMA OKWARAJI, 1964-1989.... We miss you.
SPECIAL THANKS TO Group Captain John Obakpolor for the wonderful paper that he presented at the annual Okwaraji seminar in Lagos on August 27, 2001, Concord newspaper/Dele Momodu/Shola Oshunkeye/Aliu Mohammed/Pauline Walley, New African magazine/Emmanuel Maradas, and the whole Cybereagles family.
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