Soccasive that previously hinted celebrating the silver jubilee memorial of the MAMSER MAN Soccer-maestro, Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji in Community Watchdog edition of July 22-24, 2014 was taken back when confronted with the magnitude of negligence and abandonment when, on Saturday August 9, 2014, the Traditional Ruler of Owerre-Umudioka, His Royal Highness, Eze Edmond Nwosu and his Traditional Prime Minister and former Orlu Local Government Chairman, Hon. Chief Adolphus Chigere led a team of journalists to the fallen soccer hero’s country compound that has been over-grown by weeds.
Reacting to this utter abandonment by the Federal Government that had promised to immortalize Sam Okwaraji who died in active service to the fatherland playing football in national colours during Eagles versus Palancas Negras of Angola at National Stadium, Surulere Lagos on August 12, 1989, Eze Nwosu regretted that the Federal Government promised to carter for Sam’s mother, siblings and the community, failed to keep to the promise.
Pointing out that the FG promised to immortalize Sam Okwaraji and that is yet to materialize.
Adding that they have visited the Sports Minister in Abuja whom promised to build a mini-sports complex in honour of Sam Okwaraji at Owerre-Umudioka which land to that effect has been made available by the community but till date nothing has happened.
Eze Nwosu however, implored FG to fulfill its promises to the Okwarajis, “especially now that the aged mother of Sam is still breathing”.
On the part of Imo State, Eze Nwosu said that the former governor of the state, His Excellency Achike Udenwa built and named the sports stadium at Orlu after Sam Okwaraji but regretted that it is now called “Orlu Township Stadium”.
Corroborating his Eze, the Prime Minister, Hon. Chief Chigere asserted that it was during his regime as Orlu LG Chairman that Gov. Udenwa built and named “Sam Okwaraji Sports Stadium, Orlu” but regretted that the stadium which former President Olusegun Obasanjo commissioned should retain the commissioned name “Sam Okwaraji Stadium” and not changed to “Orlu Township Stadium” by the people.
To the FG, the Traditional Prime Minister urged the Sports Ministry to fulfill all the promises made as regards immortalizing the fallen patriotic soccer star, Sam Okwaraji, so as to encourage the youths in putting more patriotic zeal while wearing the national colours.
Hon. Chiigere bemoaned the losses his community encountered on the unfulfilled plans of Sam due to the untimely death but took solace on the Almighty God who knows the best as Sam’s middle name depicts: “Sochukwuma”.
Sam, it must be recalled, was briefly at National Secondary School Ntueke Ideato in late ’70s and yours sincerely was there too. In the Book: Soccasive-Nigerian Soccer-Polical Relations (2009) chapter 16 titled” “Okwaraji memorial: A trek down our sporting lane” I kept the gentle sorting soul of Sam ever-green by stating inter alia: “we remember too the Mamser man of the century, the late Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji of blessed memory. ‘Wasky Pele’ as we used to call him at National Secondary School, Ntueke (NSSN) where he schooled and played briefly with the school junior team before Eziachi Secondary School (ESSO), snatched him up…he dropped dead doing what he knew best-the game of samba and tapioca-played with the strategic sense of purpose to excel and entertain…was a role model in discipline and sportsmanship. Yet only God knows why he left us so suddenly. Nigeria lost an illustrious son in Sam’s death… his community turned out to be the greatest losers since the developmental plans Sam had for the community died suddenly with him. What did the government do for his remembrance? A bust statue erected outside the National Stadium Complex, Suru-lere. That’s all? (PP109/11o)”
Thus, we solicit that the concerned authorities do the needful to appease the departed sporting soul of Sam and by so doing encourage the sporting youths to put in more patriotic efforts while flying the national flag.
Courtesy: Community Watchdog Newspaper
