Some football fans have urged football authorities in the country to give the late Sam Okwaraji’s bust at the National Stadium in Lagos a facelift.
In separate interviews in Lagos on Monday, the fans said that the bust had been neglected for a long time and required attention.
Okwaraji collapsed and died on Aug.12, 1989 while playing for Nigeria in a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Angola at the National Stadium in Surulere.
An autopsy report indicated that the 25-year-old professional footballer died of congestive heart failure in the 77th minute of the match.
Femi Ojuri, a businessman, said that he was not satisfied with the way the country’s past heroes were being honoured, especially those in the sports arena.
“We have to remember our past heroes in ways that will encourage the younger ones to know that they will always be remembered.
“Okwaraji was a true hero that played with his heart and died in the national colours of the country.
“The structure displaying his remembrance should be one we can visit religiously and appreciate even from afar and not one that is looking ugly and unkempt,’’ Ojuri said.
Nduka Okoh, who deals on car spare parts, said that he would always remember Okwaraji with his dreadlock hairstyle and as a hard, skillful midfielder.
“We don’t honour our heroes properly in this country; this is not fair at all.
“This is something we should be able to inculcate in our children about the rewards of patriotism; however such is not the case.
“Okwarajis’s bust at the front of the National stadium should always be kept clean and it should always reflect how a citizen should be honoured,’’ Okoh said.
Benedict Achums, a teacher, said that much needs to be done to honour Okwaraji, stressing that the burst was not good enough.
“It’s been 25 years since Okwaraji died and very little has been done for this fallen hero all these years.
“I expect an annual football match to be played in his remembrance and a lecture to also be given because he was a man with sound academic background.
“It is sad if his patriotism is left unrewarded, we may not be able to raise heroes like him,’’ Achums said.
Kunle Adigun, an artist, said that the stadium itself had been left to deteriorate as the late footballer’s bust.
“Ever since we lost the CAF Nations Cup in 2000 to Cameroon, the stadium has been left to deteriorate. It is no more a national pride for the country.
“Much needs to be done to give the stadium a facelift and more importantly, allow it to hold world class matches.
“I hope the authorities will see the significance of reviving the stadium and bringing it back to life,’’ Adigun said.
Okwaraji made the Green Eagles squad in 1988 and played at that year’s African Nations Cup.
He scored one of the fastest goals in the history of the championship against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, in which he found the net in the second minute.