Dear Sam,
It
is twenty two years you left us but the memories are still fresh in the
hearts of Nigerians as the Nation recorded one of her biggest loss in
sports.
Football fans had trooped out in their numbers to
the National Stadium, Lagos for the make or mar Italia 90 World cup
qualifiers against Angola. Little did they know that you were walking
through the valley of death
.
The atmosphere was tense, the
spectacle was filled with suspense as Nigerians could not wait to
silence the boastful Palancras Negra of Angola who have sworn to
sprinkle more salt upon Nigeria’s injury who had lost 1-2 to Gabon, but
the Eagles would not give up so cheap as you were ready to do what it
takes to wrestle the ticket from perennial rival, Cameroun. Full of
energy, nimble footed, you anchored the Eagles midfield that had also
Etim Esim, Bala Ali, and Stephen Keshi dashing forward to pull down the
wall of Berlin erected by the Angolans.
Nigerian could
not help but watch in tears and agony you bundled away by death as he
slumped and died with about 13minutes left to play (77mins). An autopsy
later revealed that you died of congestive heart failure. How true?
Please do forgive the referee who cautioned you early in the game, your
first and only in international football. I guess he was giving you a
parting gift. Now, you understand.
Armed with a wig well placed on his head and a gavel of justice in your
right hand, you were a linguist extraordinaire as you could speak Igbo,
English, Italian, Spanish, German and Yugoslavian fluently, but, who
taught you these? You also boast of a first, second and a Master’s
degree in International Law from the University of Rome. Not minding his
mastery of International Law which the Attorney General of Nigeria then
could not boast of, you preffered the soccer boots to erase the notion
that the game of football was played only by dropouts, vagabonds, touts
and even people with no future ambition. Actively involved in academic
pursuits, you still kept alive his dream of being Nigeria's "Michel
Platini" and "Brazillian Falcao" who were your soccer role models.
I
was told you began football career with AS Roma and later joined Dinamo
Zagreb. After a while, you pitched his tent with VFB Stuttgart in
Germany. Not long into the contract, you were loaned to SSV-ULM 1848. I
also learnt that you mesmerized and tormented opposing defenders that at
a point, your club slogan was "NO OKWARAJI, NO ULM”. That’s good of
you.
It was not surprising that then that you caught the
attention of National team selectors and got the opportunity to play for
Nigeria after sending several letters to the Nigeria Football
Association without any response. Wait a minute, why didn’t they reply
you? With just two matches, you sealed your place in the National team
and represented Nigeria at the African Cup of Nations in Morocco in
1988, where you scored one of the fastest goals in the history of the
tournament against Cameroun. Yes! I still watched the clips; it was a
beauty show glazer. Months later, you played for Nigeria at the Olympic
Games in Seoul. Bros, you no dey tire?
So, you were even
the first Nigerian player even to wear dreadlocks in Nigeria? Don’t tell
me you imitated Ruud Gullit? But… yet honesty, dedication and
accountability were among your invaluable. On numerous occasions, you
would pay for your flights to play without asking for refund. Unlike
some "bench warmers" in the Super Eagles of today who would hold the
whole Nation to ransom over "inflated" flight ticket money and
arrogantly insult the intelligence of 120 millions Nigerians. Are you
surprised or should I start mentioning their names?
Okwaraji
were an emblem of values that the then NFA, a microscopic Nigerian
society, needed for development and advancement. You stood out for your
patriotism and abiding love for his fatherland. You never shunned a call
up to play for Nigeria; Did you hear that Dickson Etuhu refused playing
for Nigeria against Ghana even when the match would be played at his
backyard? Please don’t say I told you o, else he might bunkum haram me.
My
big uncle told me how you would always find your way into National team
camp even when not invited for assignment. When it comes to playing for
Nigeria, you are ever ready to do what it takes and care not whose ox
is gored. He even told me how you charged at your manager for asking
Nigeria to pay $45,000 before they would release him for a World Cup
qualification match. Let me remind you what you said (angry) “I
am a lawyer, you know, and signed to play football on certain
conditions. But I don’t think it included reselling my services to my
country. You or the club cannot stop me from playing for my country. Let
me tell you, I am going to represent my country at the World Cup in
Italy, whether you like it or not. And I would very much like you to be
there.”
Even when you were
reminded of the implications of charging at your manager in such manner,
but the patriotism in you would not let you bulge. Rather, you
thundered back (more angry) “I realize that. But this
man has no right to talk to you the way he did. I am a Nigerian, and I
will die fighting for the dignity of my country.” Haba! Bros eeeeee u too get mouth.
That
declaration soon turned out to be prophetic. You laid down your life
playing for Nigeria. But what did you get in return? A statue erected in
your honour at the entrance of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos,
which has become more or less an abandoned property since it was
duplicated in Abuja. If you see am, you no go like am sef.
Even
if the stadium were in good condition and in regular use, only soccer
enthusiasts who go to the stadium to watch matches and a few other
Nigerians who have reasons to go there would see the statue and remember
you, who died serving the entire Nation with dedication and
selflessness, at a time you were writing your thesis for your PhD in
International Law. Though, I was still some months old when you died, I
will forever acknowledge your contributions to the meteoric growth of
football in Nigeria. Don’t mind those thieves at the glass house jare.
Shey u hear say we don will Olympic football gold and even attend 4
worlds cup? I wish I could turn back the hands of time but God knows
best. Don’t worry; I will name my first son after you…Yes! His name will
be Samuel, but if I end up marrying an Ibo girl, I will add Sochukwuma
join. Mark my words. I swear.
Before I end this letter,
help me advice our Super Eagles with over bloated egos. Tell them what
you did and how to do same. Tell them that you left your footprints on
the sand of time through hard work. Rest on bros. till we meet across
the bridge, where we will have no cause to mourn but laugh and even talk
sports. Regards to my friends wey dey there and Grand pa. Hope you dey
halla your guys, Marc Vivien Foe, Muda Lawal, Adefemi Olubayo, Haruna
Ilerika and so on…abeg help me greet Andres Escobar too. Bye bye.
Yours in sports,
‘Shina Oludare
(Sports Parrot)
