Today makes it 30 years Nigerian footballer and lawyer, Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji slumped and died on the turf of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos…10 minutes to the end of an Italia 1990 World Cup qualifying match of Nigeria against Angola.
Sadly, the first time Okwaraji played at the National Stadium was the last time he lived.
Okwaraji’s death was an enigma, a bizarre one. Few minutes before Okwaraji’s death, an Angolan player slumped and medical personnel then rushed to administer treatment.
While the Angolan player was still being treated, Okwaraji suddenly slumped, face down.
Samson Siasia, who was the nearest player to him, rushed to the stiffed form of Okwaraji and tried him to face up but what he saw was frightening as he put his hands on his head in despair. The Orlu, Imo-State-born player was gasping and foaming to his death as he was gritting his teeth.
However, Okwaraji could have survived if he had been rushed to a hospital.
When the medical team got onto the pitch and saw Okwaraji’s state, they signalled for an ambulance.
Alarmingly, the ambulance wouldn’t start. Four ball boys were needed to push the ambulance van to start the engine so it could drive onto the pitch and pick the still stricken Okwaraji.
When the ambulance would eventually start, the Italian-trained lawyer cum footballer was already dead. His body was then taken to the National Stadium Clinic where he was covered up, and from there to the General Hospital. He was just 25.
An autopsy later revealed that he died from possible complications of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy as he had an enlarged heart.
© Ayomide Akinbode
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