7 Incredible Facts About The Sam Okwaraji We Never Knew

Saturday the 12th of August is very important in the history of Nigerian football because it was one of the saddest days one we would love to forget but we are forced to remember because a hero, a patriot who gave us his all for the love of the nation died and has since been forgotten, the man Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji, who died Nigeria’s unsung hero one that many would forget so soon. Here are some things about the Sam Okwaraji we never knew

1 Apart from being a professional footballer, he was also a lawyer with a masters degree in international law from the prestigious University of Rome

2 Sam Okwaraji scored one of the fastest goals in the history of the African Cup of Nations against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon

3 He was the first Nigerian to play for Vfb Stuttgart then followed by another gangling Nigerian, Jonathan Akpoborie

4 Sam collapsed at the 77th minute in a World Cup Qualifier on a Saturday against Angola

5 Nine years later the U-23 Olympic Team tagged the ‘Dream Team’ played another match this time against the Pharaohs of Egypt which they won 3-2 but before the match commenced, a minute’s silence was observed in his honour

6 Sam shares the same birthday with other great athletes like Andre the Giant, Kevin Garnett, Dolph Schayes and Florence Chadwick

7 He scored a hat-trick in a friendly while playing for Dinamo Zagreb against NK Buducnost Hodosan the match ended 12-0 in favour of Zagreb

It is such a shame that Nigeria and Africa do not celebrate their own until they are dead. What could be the cause of this malady and how can it be treated?