The funeral ceremony of the late Super Eagles star, Uche Okechukwu was climaxed by a novelty football match involving ex-Super Eagles stars against Imo All Stars which ended 1-1 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri yesterday.

Okocha dazzled, current Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia thrilled, Mutiu Adepoju moved like a trojan while Uche Okechukwu and Emeka Ezeugo defended masterly to the delight of the capacity crowd inside the Dan Anyaiam stadium. Aloy Agu and Ike Shorunmu kept for the Eagles while Victor Ikpeba and Austin Eguavoen were the Eagles coaches.

See more photos here

Also, Edema Fuludu, Dominic Iorfa, Austin Popo, Baldwin Bazuaye and Peter Rufai(who played as a field player) were all entertaining in their approach. The thrills they produced brought back memories of yore and the fans really cheered their heros.

But moments after entertaining fans, the former national team players were all in tears when their fallen colleague was being lowered to Mother Earth at Ubomiri, near Owerri.

The tears had actually started during the lying-in-state after the football match against Imo All Stars which the referee ensured it ended in a 1-1draw. Uche’s former colleagues were the pallbearers as they took the body from the ambulance to the lying-in-state at the stadium and were on hand as Uche’s body was being lowered at Ubomiri.

The crowd was unbelievable as sports administrators, coaches, ex-footballers and prominent personalities in the sports fraternity were present. Prominent among the dignitaries that attended were representatives of the National Sports Commission, led by Stanley Okebugwu, NFF Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh, former NFF Vice President, Amanze Uchegbulam, former Super Eagle coach, Christian Chukwu, Assistant secretary general, Emmanuel Ikpeme, Prince Lemmy Akakem, Dr Ikechukwu Madubuike, Imo State Governor was represented by Commissioner of Sports, Ngozi Onyikwa who also paid glowing tribute to the fallen star.