Nigerian Sports: 12 Facts To Still Remember About Samuel Okwaraji.

Samuel Okwaraji.

Samuel Okwaraji is an ace and patriotic Nigerian Midfielder footballer with the jersey number 6. He died playing for the National Team in 1990 during the FIFA world cup qualifier at the Lagos National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos State on the 12th of August 1989.

For those that know him superficially, below are quick facts about the great Samuel Okwaraji who died in the line of duty for his country, Nigeria.

- He bagged a master degree in international law from the University of Rome (Pontifical Lateran).

- He debut for the "Super Eagles" at the African Nation cup in Morocco in 1988.

 - The European clubs he played for during his lifetime are VFB Stuttgart (1987-1989), AS Roma (1984-1985), SSV ULM on loan (1987-1988), NK Dinamo Zagreb (1985-1986), Austria Klagenfurt (1986-1987)

- In the history of African football, he scored one of the fastest goal against the Cameroon team.

- The idea of throwing jersey on the floor by the coach for the player to fight for it was initiated by Samuel.

- He was born on the 19th May 1964 in  Orlu Imo-State.

- Okwaraji played for Belgian club "K Berchem Sports" till death.

- He collapsed 77th minutes prior to the end of a match against Angola in the 1990 world cup qualifier in Surulere Lagos.

- He was honoured with a Google Doodle on the 19th of May 2019.

 - Samuel can speak up to five languages; English, Italian, Spanish, German and his native dialect "Igbo" 

- Ex-Governor Babatunde Fashola unveiled a concrete bust of Okwaraji in the memorial garden at the Surulere National Stadium on the 12th of August 2009.

Writer: AdekunleMichealT

Editor(s): Fieldmarshal & Awe Olufunso
Publisher: Awe Olufunso