Picture: Ex Green Eagles star, Okey Isima, dies

Posted by admin Headlines, Soccer, Sports Tuesday, February 19th, 2013

CAPTAIN of the 1980 Nations Cup-winning Green Eagles squad, Christian Chukwu (MON), has described the late Okey Isima (MON), as a true football stakeholder.

Chukwu, in a telephone chat with Tribunesport in Lagos, said that the exit of the former teammate was a great loss to Nigerian football.

“In fact, I have not recovered from the shock since I heared the news yesterday [Monday]. It was shocking. I never knew Okey isima was ill, he sounded healthy to me when we spoke last. We were very close when he was playing for Rangers and also in the national team before he left for Standard FC of Jos.

He was a very unassuming person, quiet and cheerful.

“After the Nations Cup, he went to the United States of America where he continued playing and was doing quite well. He also raised his family there before returning home where he began to groom young footballers. So, he was a true stakeholder as far as football is concerned and losing somebody like him is indeed painful but God knows best.”

Also in his tribute, another member of the 1980 victorious Eagles, Adokiye Amiesimaka (MON), said that Isima’s contribution to his fatherland through football would remain evergreen.

“My condolences to the Isimas on the shocking news of the demise of my former colleague in the national team. okey Isima (MON), as a footballer served Nigeria very well helping it to win the AFCON for the first time for his country in 1980.

“May God’s grace and strength abide with his family, relations and close freinds,” Amiesimaka said.

Via Tribunewp_posts