BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF LATE CHIEF FRANCIS OBI OKOYE, EZEBILITERE
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By Francis Okoye


 
Francis Obi Okoye (Uchendu) was born on 10th December 1934 to Late Chief Okolie Uchendu and Lolo Uduonu Uchendu of Mbarakpaka village, ihiala in Ihiala Local government Area of Anambra State.
                He was a symbolic prodigy whose sporting life took off right from his cradle. The rare honour of appreciating his virtue on the field of play, his calculated defensive patterns and other dazzling movements remain ever green in memories of thousands of football loving fans in Aba, Eastern Nigeria, Nigeria and the united kingdom were he trained as a  full badged licensed coach.
                He started his football exploits from a tender age at the Christ the king school Aba in 1939 under late Rev Fr. Panaky Simbaby. He played for the school team until he passed out in standard 6 in 1948 and in 1949; he became a pupil teacher under late Rev Fr. JJ Hampson. He excelled in sports (football) and represented Christ the king school, Aba, and the Aba district Amateur football Association. He played side by side with his school teacher late Anthony Nwosu.
                In Jan 1952 he got an automatic admission to mount saint Mary’s teachers training college Azara Egbelu, Emekuku owerri and trained and qualified as a certified teacher.
At the college, he became the captain/football coach under the principal of the school, Rev. Fr. Moloney and represented the college team against other catholic higher institutions team managed by the early missionaries-Holy Ghost college owerri, Holy Ghost college Umuahia, Stella Maris college portharcourt, Teachers training college Nsu, Okpuala Seminary etc.
 
Apart from playing and coaching his school team, the young obi as he was called then, also excelled as an Athlete. He was the college law tennis singles /doubles champion and represented owerri province in athlete (pole vault) in the defunct Eastern Region A.A.A.
Teacher obi as he was fondly called became a games master and head of the junior school section of CKS Aba. He taught there from Jan 1954 to Dec 1956.
He also was selected to play for the indomitable catholic youths football club founded by Rev. Fr. J.J. Hampson. The football exploits of Francis obi Okoye could not go unnoticed and hence while playing for the catholic youths FC of Aba, he was spotted and selected to play in one of the greatest teams of the times the Aba XI.
He featured for Aba XI- the giant killers under chief JC Anyansi (Late Eze of Nsugbe), late Chief  M W Ubani , Barr Uche Ubani,Barr Uche Omo(later retired as a high court judge)etc. the team was known as ABA GIANT KILLERS. He became the captain /coach of Aba Giant Killers FC (Enyimba FC) from 1950-1962.He represented ABA X1 against Enugu black rocks, Portharcourt Garden City football team,Onitsha Red Devils team,Ogoni X1,Warri X1 in 1952,Pan bank team in 1953,Nsukka X1.He played with the following team mates in Aba Giant Killers ,Nelson Njoku,Isaac Nnado,Godwin Ejimofor,Rueben ONUORAH,Mark Onyejiaka,Isreal Onyejiaka,Alpheus Okpokiri,Augustine Idimogu, Boy Ajasco Onyekwere,Younka,EMEKA Okonkwo,Hayden Ukaegbu,Orji,Lazarus,Timba and Emmanuel Ochembaetc.He worked at the ministry of finance Board of internal Revenue of Eastern Nigeria from 1957-1958.
Gold fish they  say has no hiding place so it is that obi okoye’s football talent as a defender had no hiding place, as he was soon selected to play for Eastern Nigeria selected XI. This was in 1956 and he  played for that team for 6 years.
In 1958, he represented Eastern Nigeria selected XI against  the English FA tourist at Enugu sports stadium, were he was indentified and selected to the national team- the Nigeria Red  devils.Amongst his play - mates in the Eastern Nigeria selected were the following-Isaac Nnado,John Onyeador,David Okoroji, Sam Ibiam,Albert Onyeawuna, Francis broiler Uwalaka,Elkana Onyeali,Dejo Fayemi,Emmanuel Omiwu,Cyril Asoluka, Friday Okoh,Imade Andre,Dan Okwudili.
He began to play for the Nigeria National team at both National and international matches from 1958-18962 at the right full back and was nicknames iron gate of Nigeria ,meaning that in the defence, he was like an  Iron gate closed to attackers and mid fielders. This name was given to him by Nigerian s greatest radio commentator, Ishola Foloronsho .He has also been described as one of the greatest defenders that Nigeria has ever produced in the National team. He was a legend on his own when it comes to defence.
While playing for the National team, he also worked as a salesman with UAC Nigeria Ltd from 1959-1962 and coached/ played for UAC football club.
He was in the Nigeria team that played against Germany National team in Nigeria. Speaking about that uncounted in an interview with our nation newspapers of Feb 17, 2003, he stated’’ oh, my most memorable match is the match against a German visiting team called the German desulduff. It was unfortunate that I sustained an injury but it was a very thrilling match, goals came in and goals were redeemed. I tell you this match will ever remain memorable in my mind throughout my life’
In 1959, the National team, the Red devils with Obi Okoye in it, played against Ghana on Oct 25 1959 at Accra stadium, they played Egypt and beat Ghana 3-1 in Lagos and Dahomy 11-1 Great football legends of Nigeria like Thunder Balogun, Dan Anyaia, Francis Uwalaka, Isaac Nnado, Peter Aneke etc. played along side Obi Okoye.The national team colors then were red jersey top, red pants and red hoses.
In 1963, he was employed as traffic/ commercial officer with Nigeria Airways Ltd Ikeja and became captain and coach of their football team.
 
In 1966, at the onset of the civil war, he left Lagos for the east and joined the Eastern Nigeria sports council.(Biafra sports council) and coached Aba province covering Aba, Nnewi, Port-Harcourt, Degema, Yanagoa, Owerri, Orlu and Ihiala from 1966-1967. He was coaching at Calabar, Opobo, Eket and Oron from 1967-1970
He met his wife, Miss Dorothy Nkasiobi Agbo from Neke in isi uzo (Enugu State) at Uyo while she was working as a nurse at St luke Hospital Anua  and he was working as a football coach. They were wedded on 1st March 1969.
At the end of the civil war, he was posted to Onitsha, and coached several school teams like CKC Onitsha, DMGS Onitsha, metropolitan college Onitsha were he groomed and developed many young men who later dominated football in Nigeria. He also coached the Onitsha Red devils from  1970-75 in 1975-196 he was posted to Abakaliki and coached the Abakaliki white Angels, who reached for the first and only time the state challenge cup finals.
From 1956-1977, he attended all coaching courses and seminars organized by the national sports commission in Lagos and joined the Anambra State sports council as Assistant football coach on 21 st December  1966.
In 1977,Obi Okoye travelled to Britain with 45 other football coaches from all over the world, he took the  preliminary  football coaching certificate exam of the football association London and was among the few that passed.
He moved over to national sports centre Wales where he was privilege to learn under the coach of the national team of Wales, Mr. Mike Smith, assisted by Bobby Brown. He studied advanced coaching course for 4 weeks known as the international welsh FA coaching certificate and passed in flying colours. He also obtained the international football coaching certificate of the football Association London at the national sports centre Bisham Abbey Marlow- Bucks England.
He came back to Nigeria and was offered the job of coach to Rangers international FC with Robbert Odume as his assistant in 1978/79 .players like Christain Chukwu,Emmanuel Okala,EMEKA Onyedika,Maithias Obianika,AlloyAtuegwu,SlyvanusOkpalla,Ogidi Ibeabuchi,Adokie Amasiemeka,Patrick Ekeji,Nnamdi Nwokeocha,IG Ilechukwu were in the squad he coached.The club chairman was the sports loving Chief Jim Nwobodo , who later became the Governor of Anambra State.Most of those players he handled made it to the national team , the Green Eagles . Those player were also in the squad that won the African Nations cup in 1980.Rangers reached the quarter finals of international competitions and its peak in the local scene but he was not allowed to continue to coach the side due to  politics, and was posted  to Onitsha.
On June 1979, he was accepted to further his coaching qualifications by starting the full badge footb all coaching course which he passed. The highest football coaching qualification available in Britain then. He obtained the full badge football coaching license for 1979-1986, and acquired the certificate in Management, Administration and organization of sports and stadium management from the National sports centre Sophia gardens Cardiff.
This full badge pro license was renewed from 1991-1997, he had football coaching attachment to top professional clubs  sides in UK namely Chelsea FC, Arsenal FC ,Westham FC ,Queens park Rangers,Tottenham hotspurs FC, Charlton FC, Crystal palace FC Wrexham FC, Cardiff city FC Swansea FC and Watford FC
He handled the following clubs, all of which he led from Amatuer league to professional league and state league champion
1.       Nija print FC 1980-1983
2.       Morning star FC 1984-1985
3.       Premier Breweries FC 1986-1989
4.       ASESA warriors FC 1989-1991 
In 1991 till 1995, he was made NFA match commissioner and 1995 became NFA pro league match commissioner. In 1994, he was among those who attended FIFA/NFA FIVE SIDE Football coaching course in Lagos.
As a professional coach, he was a National Executive of Nigeria football coach association in 1980 chairman Anambra State football coach 1979-1980 and its Training officer since 1981 technical Adviser- Onitsha North coaches Association.
It would be noted that before the end of his football coaching career , Obi Okoye had coached and groomed over 200 players of Igbo extraction who have played for professional clubs within and out side Nigeria as well as the various National teams.
 
Awards
He was given Aba Divisional Amateur football association Award in the form of wall clock for his outstanding contribution to football in Aba. Other awards include
·         Onitsha Divisional Amateur football association ODAFA award for his contributions to football in Onitsha and Nigeria (1992)
·         Anambra State Nigeria union of Journalist Award for outstanding contribution to football in the state and Nigeria. 1993
·         Nigeria football association (NFA) Bounvita Award for contributions to Nigeria football 1986
·         Anambra State sports festival award for outstanding contributions to football in Anambra State as a football coach.
 
 
Social life
He was a member of Igwebuike Social Club of Ihiala for over 20 years, before he ended his membership. He was also a strong pillar of the defunct committee of friends,  St Mary’s parish, Onitsha. He also indentified with Amamu Indigene in Onitsha for so many years.
 
Community   Life
Papa was a good community leader and the eldest in Umenyirioha Royal family for a few days before he died. As head of Uchendu family, he moved the family forward and spent many hours, often extending into the night in settling disputes among family members.In his younger days, he did everything possible to see that uchendu family progress and advance, both academically and businesswise.
He was a noted disciplinarian and diplomatic ,saying the truth in matters brought before him, no matter who was affected.
Married life
He got married to his heart throb, Mrs. Dorothy Nkasiobi obi Okoye{nee agbo} on 1stMarch 1969 and the union was  blessed with 8 children, Obinna, Late Ikem, Njideka, Tobechukwu, Chukwudi, Chioma, late Ogochukwu and Ijeoma. 1st march 2016 marked the 49th Anniversary of their wedding.
He was a good family man who enjoyed the company of his wife, children and neigbours; he was peaceful, loving, caring and had a strong faith in God and our mother the Virgin Mary whose Rosary he prayed always and her scapular and medals he wore.
 
CHRISTIAN LIFE
Papa was a devout Christian and was an active member of the Catholic Men Organization at Onitsha where he lived most of his life. He was the president of Zone 7 of St. Mary Catholic Church Onitsha, and he held the office for 2 tenures.
He served as not only a member of harvest and Bazaar Committee for over 10years but also served as the Auctioneer for three consecutive years.
 
He was an active CMO member and a member of their Cultural Dance – ABIAIULOHe rose to become a member of the Parish Council and Secretary of St. Mary parish Council under Monsignor Gabriel Onuorah and Rev. Fr. G.C. Ikeobi. He was the one who gave Late Archbishop A.K. Obiefuna the key to open the door of St. Mary Catholic Church inland town Onitsha for the dedication of the Church.
 
Papa would often come home from Parish Council meetings at about 10-11pm at night, after holding series of meetings, all in a bid to raise money and build the present St. Mary’s Catholic Church. After about 8 years of service, he had to resign as a result of ill health. He and his wife were later made the Patron & Patroness of C.W.O St. Mary’s Catholic Church Onitsha.In Onitsha, he supported the church in many projects by making generous donations.
 
In Ihiala, he never failed to be among the few from Mbrakpaka village that attend the Harvest Bazaar Auction Sales whenever he was around and did not delay in paying for goods he bought at the Auction Sales.
 
As reward for his labour in the vineyard, God made him witness the call and Ordination of his son Tobechukwu Agapitus Okoye as a priest in the Catholic Church in Rome, together with his wife and first son. He was also alive to attend the first mass at Ihiala of his son and would also be buried by his son. Rev. Fr. Dr. Agapitus Tobechukwu Okoye  of the Opus dei Congregation. The first Ihiala Opus dei priest – papa father has brought Opus dei to Nnewi diocese, courtesy of his son, and his legacy lives on.
 
He held on to God all through his sickness until his peaceful passing to eternal glory to be with Our Lord Jesus Christ on Oct 11th 2016.
Papa, your glorious and inspiring life style will ever remain with us as we bid you farewell.
“Ezebilitere”
“Iron Gate”
Farewell
Jee nke oma!!!
Arc Francis
Obinna okoye
(For the Family)