Okwaraji's 25th anniversary: Official attitude unencouraging

August 12 rolled by yesterday like any other day without Nigerian
sports administrators marking the 25th anniversary of the death of
Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji who slumped and died at the mainbowl of the
National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos in a World Cup qualifier against
Angola.

Cocktails of promises have remained unfulfilled 25 years after
Okwaraji paid the supreme sacrifice of dying with the national jersey
number 6, a jersey that the administrators vowed would be retired in
memory of Okwaraji.

But Senator Tunde Ogbeha raised serious concerns on the poor treatment
of the anniversary of Okwaraji by Nigerian Football officials who are
currently locked on who occupies what position at the heart of
Nigerian football.

''It is sad that yesterday was the 25th anniversary of his death and
yet it went by like a day without any relevance'', Ogbeha a retired
General and former Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom and Bendel
State said.

''You cannot expect to get the best from serving players when they
watch your shambolic treatment of their models and heroes who died in
the course of playing for Nigeria'', the Senator admonished.

He said that he expected the administrators to honour Okwaraji with
lectures and seminars as well as a visit to his people to make them
know that their son did not die in vain.

''We must begin to appreciate our heroes dead or alive. I think that
Okwaraji remains a legend in Nigerian football and deserved better
treatment from those who run football in Nigeria''.

Senator Ogbeha, an ardent football follower and proprietor of Ogbeha
Babes Football Club showed so much passion for football that players
of Ogbeha Babes got their sign-on fees and other allowances paid
without delay.

And as Nigerian officials get enmeshed with the power tussle over who
controls the steering of the NFF, sources hinted yesterday that
Senator Ogbeha may joine the race to salvage Nigerian football.

''His name has been mentioned severally but we are watching with keen
interest to see if he will come out to save us from the leadership
quagmire of NFF'', one of the football heavyweights said.