” Okoye is among the tallest goalkeeper in the German 4th division aside his height he is a a typical German modern day German goalkeeper in the sense that he plays very well with his feet. The Manuel Neuer style has got to him. For the games I’ve watched he is also good in one and one situation and also organises his defence very well.
Okoye’s weakness;
” The one drawback in his game has to be his ball handling. It’s a little suspect as he drops balls more than he grips but his recovery rate is near perfect. He is also not the best in dealing with crosses and that is a problem many goalkeepers of his age have”.
The modern Christians are the most confused set of people.
Most of them still believe Yeshua was born in 0000AD, whereas he was born about 6years before that time.
The most interesting part and decisive part of human life is from the teenage to 29. What Jesus/Yeshua was doing around that time, none of them knows and cares not knowing, Believing that whatever is not in the Bible is wrong and anything in the scripture is right.
Many of the beliefs today by the Christians emanated from the resolutions of the first 7 Ecumenical councils.
makewetalk2: Ronaldo feels very insecure. He will remain second to Messi forever no matter how loud he enunciates his achievement.
Ronaldo only won the champions league trophies with two clubs [s]Clarence Seedorf a Central Midfielder from the Netherlands won the same number of champion league trophies as Ronaldo with 3 clubs[/s]
Ronaldo is not the most successful Champion league trophy winner. Paco Gento has 6 champion league trophies to his name
Messi scored 91 goals in 2012. why not break that record and become the GOAT that you always want to be.
Ororo why not win it with Juventus?
Clarence Seedorf won the UEFA Champions League 4 times, while Ronaldo won it 5 times
When I strolled into the National Stadium on 12 August 1989, I had many businesses in mind.
The National Stadium was being opened after being shut down for years in preparation for Nigeria’89, the FIFA age grade competition that Nigeria still did not host.
There was 1990 World Cup qualifier against Angola, in which my brother and friend Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji was playing in, I anticipated the role he would play in the game. I never knew that he would die in that match.
Two months earlier, he did not play a game in Ibadan, though he was in Nigeria. He told me that he was tied of proving himself repeatedly – team officials were still treating him as if he was not good enough for the Super Eagles. Sam travelled to Enugu to see his family.
I met Sam through Onochie Anibeze. Another friend Ben Edokpayi had written about a Nigerian in Europe who was asking for a chance (only a game) to prove to Nigerians that he had a play in the Super Eagles that was suffused with great players at various stages of their distinguished careers.
By August 12, he had become famous for his humility, education (he was a PhD student in law), amazing football skills, and his willingness to put his country first, always.
Sam debuted for Nigeria 30 January 1988 against Algeria, at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, Enugu. It was an appropriate introduction. He grew up in Enugu and his family was still there.
He was amazing. Nigerians noticed. He had played at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations where Nigeria finished second, scoring the competition’s fastest goal, a stunner against Cameroun that kept the Indomitable Lions in check among other contributions. He was in the 1988 Olympic team and his eyes were set on the World Cup in Italy, a country where he began his professional career in 1984-1985, in AS Roma. He played for NK Dynamo Zagreb (1985-1986), Austria Klagenfurt (1986-1987), VfB Stuttgart (1987-1989), SSV Ulm (loan) (1987-1988).
We became closer after the fiasco in Seoul, where the Nigerian team, that had a 20-year-old history of harassing Brazil at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico, succumbed to Brazil’s 5-0 trouncing. In Mexico, Nigeria led Brazil 3-0 at half time, the game ended 3-3.
Sam was unhappy about Seoul and wrote letters to me on what could be done to gain a World Cup place. It was a personal ambition.
The Italians had wanted him to nationalise, or at least play in their League, he refused, telling them he would play for Nigeria. It would have been a delight to appear at the 1990 World Cup in Italy in Nigerian colours. He died driving that dream. He was just 25!
Sam was different. He prepared his contract which always featured a clause that he would be available for his country, without any cost to Nigeria. At this time, clubs and players asked for various sums to be paid to represent the country. Unlike others who stayed in hotels on arriving Lagos, he would stay with his relations in Festac Town.
It was on a visit to the Festac home that I discovered that his sister was two years ahead of me at IMT, Enugu. We became family and that made his death more shocking. We were to meet after the match.
There were no telephones and I was holding to his letter before his arrival that we would see. At the 77th minute, he collapsed, was stretchered out, ambulanced away. Most people in the stadium knew it was a serious injury. Nobody thought of death.
I dispatched Eyobong Ita to the Medical Centre. He did not return by the end of the game. I became more agitated, more over the fact that Eyobong could have forgotten that he had to write the story for the Sunday edition of the paper. It appeared that the major angle of the story would be Sam’s collapse.
Overall, it was a terrible day, apart from the slim victory that raised doubts about Nigeria’s hopes of a first World Cup qualification. Many were injured in the over-crowded stadium.
It was the first game at the National Stadium in more than two years and more people wanted to see the Eagles again than the stadium could take.
Match over, I made my way to the Medical Centre. A crowd was there, expecting a limping Sam issuing from the place. Some journalists were there. I found Eyobong and he had the news that an ambulance moved Sam.
Then I saw someone (I cannot disclose the source even after 27 years). Terrible day, I began a conversation. “Horrible day,” he said. “We lost six people, including Sam”. I had no reason to doubt him, I had no reason to take the story as he gave it. I remain eternally grateful to him.
In a quick meeting, I told my team what happened and the need for us to keep the story to ourselves.
We were the ones breaking the news to sources we expected to confirm it. We asked Philip O. C. Achebe, Secretary of the Nigeria Football Association, he did not know. I spoke to Alhaji Babayo Shehu, Director-General of the National Sports Commission, in his office, where he was making final plans for the National Sports Festival that was to start at the National Stadium the next day. He did not know. The Festival had been moved to Lagos because facilities in Bauchi, the proposed host, were not ready.
Our team of Onochie Anibeze, Eyobong, Philip Ahante and George Esiri (photographer) jammed inside a vehicle for the General Hospital, Marina, where we were told the ambulance headed. I was driving.
How would you believe that resurrection was impossible for a friend, brother?
I still hoped that my source was wrong. The next day I intended to make a round of apologies to all those I had misled with the news.
We went to the emergency ward first. Some victims of the over-crowded stands were receiving treatment. Sam was not there. I found courage to park on Broad Street, where the hospital’s mortuary was located. I asked the mortuary attendant my silliest question, when he confirmed that Sam was there, “Is he dead?”
The man was angry for good reason. “This no be mortuary? I tell you say person dey here you dey ask whether im don die?” I felt a strong wind, the Marina’s I guess (in my village, it would be attributed to Sam, as his genuine farewell to a friend) blow me into reality.
Sam was dead.
Everybody crammed into the car again. We headed to the office through Apapa, made a stop on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway for Onochie to stop press, call Sam’s club in Belgium, and for Esiri to develop his pictures.
Ahante and I drove to Festac’77 (now Tulip), the team’s camp. One more confirmation would not do us any harm.
While clearing with the hotel’s gate security, we met Clement Temile. He was at the hotel to meet Sam, unaware that he was gone. We broke the news to him; he wept. Sam was to take Temile back to Belgium, where he would commence his professional career in Europe. We saw other Eagles heading to the nightclub, some said they did know Sam was gone.
Coach Paul Hamilton was in tears when we got to his room. Food, room service brought, was left in one corner – untouched. I did not say a word to him. I left, certain that Sam was dead.
Back in the office, a flurry of activities led us to the production of the Sunday paper that blazoned the headline – OKWARAJI DEAD. An autopsy report said he died of congestive heart failure; he had an enlarged heart and high blood pressure.
The day after the country mourned deeply for one of its own. The debate was whether the National Sports Festival should be postponed or cancelled. A decision was reached to go on with the Festival, a decision I believe Sam would have supported.
Yet the family had not be informed. Who will tell the family? Where was the family?
Alhaji Babayo Shehu, with a large entourage of State Directors of Sports, who were in Lagos for the Festival, arrived at our office on the night of 13 August, a Sunday.
We made the visit to Sam’s family in Festac. From apologies to explanations, we came off that meeting letting the family into the details, as they were available.
More meetings followed until his burial in his native Umudioka, in Nkwerre, on 2 September 1989, after a funeral mass by Dr. Gregory Ochiagha, the Catholic Bishop of Orlu.
Promises to honour him, cater for his family, scholarships and jobs for his relations, manifested only in his bust outside the National Stadium.
PS: As I was writing this piece, Gara Gombe Ahmed Shuaibu asked me whether the outstanding allowances and bonuses of Sam Okwaraji had been paid. I told him I did not know. My little confession, I have not been in touch with the family, that much, lately.
Isiguzo, former chairman of Vanguard editorial board, was the newspaper’s sports editor in 1989
todaynewsreview: Bro you tried but got some of your history wrong. 1. United Kingdom is the same as Britain or the Great Britain. 2. The four kingdoms are England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 3. United States 50 States are not totally independent. They practice Federal System and not Confederal system as the guy posit.
Thanks
Oh my bad! So sorry about this mistake, meant England, not Britain
Earlier wanted to tell him this;
United Kingdom comprises of Britain (Wales, Scotland and England) and Nothern Ireland
Jman06: US has 50 states with near homogeneity in culture, language and socialization generally. There's also a separation of religion from state affairs. Same cannot be said of Nigeria with the high level of tribal and religious bigotry we have here!
The truth is that if Nigeria is not restructured along regional lines, then nothing positive will come out the present lopsided system we currently have. Not even in 300yrs time!!!
franchasng: Fulanis are the major problem Nigeria is facing now.
This is how Hausa-Fulani soldiers in Nigerian army have been helping Boko Haram become invincible even during Goodluck regime that it seemed like ragtag Boko Haram militants was undefeatable
UK is succeeding today because they understood the trouble in mixing too many diversity of races or ethnicity as one nation, so they came together as independent nations under one bigger umbrella called United Kingdom which is made up of 4 independent nations, namely - Britain, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The same is happening in USA - United States of America comprising 52 independent nations known as state with their independent Police and laws under one big umbrella called USA.
[/b].
Just take a look at how a whole intelligent Police officers on a national service was killed by fellow men in uniform, it hurts so much, it hurts men
United Kingdom comprises of Britain (Wales, Scotland and England) and Nothern Ireland
Liverpool can confirm Taiwo Awoniyi has joined FSV Mainz 05 on loan until the end of the season, subject to a completed medical and international clearance.
The striker will remain with Jürgen Klopp’s former club for the duration of the 2019-20 campaign after the transfer was agreed on Tuesday.
Awoniyi initially joined the Reds in August 2015 having starred for Nigeria in the U17 World Cup two years earlier.
The striker has since enjoyed loan stints with FSV Frankfurt, NEC Nijmegen, Royal Excel Mouscron (twice) and KAA Gent.
The 21-year-old scored a total of 14 goals in all competitions in 2018-19, during spells with both Gent and Mouscron.
Awoniyi signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool in the summer of 2018.
Lizzysamuel: "Police IG's Understanding of "Revolution" Is Embarrassing; He Must Provide • Protection for All Protesters Across Nigeria Tomorrow" - Femi Falana (SAN)
Stardaramedia: OPE IS GONE. Ope wakes up every other day, and lost the zeal to live, she was the type to envy, the type you see with a bottle of coke and maybe cake, the type you think lacks nothing as regard finances, Ope bought lots of things, thanks to Ope's parents, Ope isn't a dullard, she just lost the zeal to focus on school, Ope doesn't have hard life , she only have hard brain problem. When Ope resumed school for the semester, the demons resumed with her, they ceased her sleep and eat her brains, they created fears such that Ope couldn't cross road at the fear of vehicle, Ope only goes out at night and walk at road side without crossing, Ope had little or no friend, often time lonely and had no one to talk to, Ope hated schooling, it is like anytime she goes to class the demons(in forms of course mates) are mocking her or penetrating her with judging eyes, some said she doesn't greet people , Others say she talks to few people and thus must be rude, no one knows the demons of Ope, that the sight of people a times frightens her. When Ope doesn't attend school everyone sees her as unserious, but Ope kept it in, when she wakes up every morning it is like death is near, When Ope finally spoke out her ordeals in the hands of depression and mental illness, only few understand. One prayer house to another could not help Ope, When Ope's antidepressants drugs didn't work, she knew she was beyond redemption. Ope knew she was beyond redemption because she suddenly lost interest in life, she lost interest in sleep, simple things like common bathing, combing of hairs, brushing of teeth become so difficult , Simple everyday activities is a nightmare for her. She became so anxious of little matters and at times wonder if she would end up with high blood pressure, Ope had no problem yet had lots of pressure on her shoulder , pressures which emanated from her brain and fears, Ope knew when she dies no one would miss her asides her mum (But then she would get over it ), Ope had cause pain for so many people. Ope is gone, if she doesn't go , the spiritual world will come take her away, they hate Ope's earthly peace because she is a glorious child . she had written four books and published two books and some correction Even made by the director of all school in Ondo state and one of the great writter of our time Bashorun seinde arogbofa she was the best in her secondary School days wining many awardees .
note : some lecturer had nut even written any books of their own but she had she had passion for writing
source : her friend
Everything said above about her was true
She told me some things relating to all these while we were together in her 100level then.
She even told me how she was possessed when she was young and delivered. Then I was thinking she was just lying and didn’t ........
Thank God it never happened Many things I can’t say here She was so wierd
IamGracious: I told my mom about it. She didn't believe it, and dismissed the issue. So I went to a spiritual man(my sibling took me to before for fortification). He said since he fortified me, that I have no need to worry. But I feel there is something in my head, especially at the back of my head. I can feel it, and I know there is something there, but it is not visible outwardly.
European Football (EPL, UEFA, La Liga) › Re: UEL Group Stage Draw: Arsenal Vs Frankfurt, Man Utd Face Astana by Tolexander: 1:18pm On Aug 30, 2019
