Sam Okoye
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Samuel Okoye | ||
| Date of birth | May 1, 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Lagos, Nigeria | ||
| Date of death | August 31, 2005 (aged 25) | ||
| Place of death | Tehran, Iran | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–2004 | Enugu Rangers | ||
| 2004–2005 | Enyimba | ||
| 2005 | Sorkhpooshan | ||
| National team | |||
| 1999 |
 Nigeria U19 | ||
| 2003 |
Nigeria | ||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Sam Okoye (1 May 1980 – 31 August 2005) was a Nigerian football goalkeeper who represented Nigeria during the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Career
A native of Lagos, Sam Okoye was on a test period in 2005 with the Iranian Azadegan League club Sorkhpooshan Delvar Afzar F.C..
He was first choice goal-keeper for Rangers International of Enugu for several years and later Enyimba of Aba before leaving for Iran after trying unsuccessfully to play in Europe. Sam was a complete goal-keeper noted for his superb reflexes, agility and composure between the sticks. He can be described as Nigeria's Jose Chilavert though he was not controversial or a set-piece expert.
In spite of his abilities, Sam Okoye was not given a look-in by Nigeria's football coaches at international competitions after the U-20 World Youth Championship in 1999. However he was part of Nigeria's squad to Sydney 2000 Olympic Games where team handler Jo Bonfere picked Greg Etafia, who was much of a left-footer and visibly lacked ambidexterity, ahead of him much to the surprise of millions of Nigerian fans. Sam [in jersey number 18] is the only squad member who did not feature in Nigeria's 4 games at the Olympics.
Until his demise, Sam Okoye never made the squad to the African Cup of Nations and the World Cup.
Death
Four months after his 25th birthday, whilst living in Teheran, he reportedly died there after a few days' illness. The cause and circumstances of his death have not been adequately elucidated and Iranian authorities did not release his remains for repatriation and burial in Nigeria until May 2006.[1] The duo of Daniel Olerum and Sunny Okoye disclosed from the Iranian capital, Tehran that officials of Sorkh Poushan FC have agreed to foot the flight bills of the late footballer.[1][2]
References
- 1 2 "Nigeria: Okoye's Body Released by Iran". iranproleague.net. 17 May 2006. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
- ↑ "Okoye's corpse suffers more delay". Daily Sun. Nigeria. May 29, 2006. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
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