naptu2:
My dad and others were at the stadium, but I watched the match on tv at home. I saw when Okwaraji collapsed, when one of the players (I've forgotten who) put his hands on his head in alarm and when Okwaraji was stretchered into the ambulance. I assumed that he was alive and expected to read updates on his condition in the papers the next day.

I also saw as some fans were being carried over the fence and stretchered to the athletics track where Red Cross officials were attending to them. The stadium was too full and it seems that the gates were opened during the second half and there was a scuffle between people who were trying to get into the arena and people who were trying to get out. Some people suffocated, while others were trampled.

But my uncle (who played for Nigeria in the '50s and '60s) showed up at the house after the match. "Where is ****" (my dad). "He's not back", I replied.

"They've killed this boy o!", my uncle exclaimed. I asked who and he replied that Okwaraji was dead. I didn't believe him. "But they put him in the ambulance", I replied. My uncle grew angry. "Which ambulance? Which ambulance? The boy was dead on the pitch. The ambulance was just for show, so that the crowd wouldn't panic".

I still refused to believe him, but I didn't argue, because I could see that he was upset. Instead, I went to my room and prayed, hoped and wished that Okwaraji was still alive. But unfortunately, it was reported on the NTA News that Okwaraji was dead.

naptu2:
Okwaraji's death was especially painful because of the nature of the man. At that time there was a dichotomy between the professional players and the home based players.

The professionals made a lot of demands before playing for the national teams. They often arrived camp and training sessions late (in flashy cars) and were always involved in one scandal or the other (eg Etim Esin).

Okwaraji was the opposite. He never caused any problems, often paid his own travel expenses, was always the first to get to camp and was never involved in any scandals. He was a devout christian and was studying for his law degree at an Italian university. He was actually playing in Italy (which most nigerians felt had the best league in the world at the time).

naptu2:


I did not write that he was studying for his law degree when he died.

That post was about why his death hurt me more than usual and that was because, unlike other professionals, he always came back to play for Nigeria

1) Even when the NFA did not pay for flight tickets

2) Even when he was studying for his law degree

3) He was always the first to show up in camp even when others showed up late

4) He never made demands or gave conditions before playing for Nigeria

5) He was simple and a devout Christian, even when other professionals were showing up with girls and flashy cars.

Read my post again

naptu2:


Kollington Ayinla - Megastar Album (1989).

O Okwaraji! is the 5th track.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8WgQtQPBeU

naptu2:
I keep coming back to this game because. . .you might not understand what it is to watch this game without tension. This was a crazy match! My dad left. He couldn't take it anymore. He said, "Call me if they score" and went to his room. Yet he couldn't stay away from the game! He turned on the radio and was listening to commentaries on Radio Nigeria.


It was a crazy match. There were stars everywhere on the pitch! There was Lakhdar Belloumi, Samuel Okwaraji, Rashidi Yekini, Djamel Menad, Peter Rufai, etc. The crowd supported the Algerians because they were neighbours. Nigeria took the lead via an own goal in the 46th minute (Okwaraji forced the defender to put the ball in his own net) and then, when it looked like we would win, the Algerians scored in the 86th minute (my brother always said that Rufai was one of the best goalkeepers at stopping shots from in front of him, but that, like all Nigerian goalkeepers, he was terrible with crosses).

However, what I would never forget was the unending penalties. I knew that Peter Rufai would score (I had seen him play as an outfield player and I had seen him score penalties, so I was confident), but the tension was insane! I couldn't sit still.


Then, guess whose penalty was saved. . .just guess (the same name that had been burned into my brain before the match).


Peter Rufai is a legend!


Nigeria vs Algeria (semi-final of the 1988 African Nations Cup in Morocco).



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOkNnt9_94A

JidennaJason:
The labour of our heroes past are all in vain...


Rest Peacefully Football Barrister.