Samuel oparaji biography

Nigerian footballer

Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji(19 May 1964 – 12 August 1989) was a professional footballer who played internationally for Nigeria.

He was also a qualified lawyer who had a masters in international law from the Pontifical Lateran University of Rome.^[1] He collapsed and died of congestive heart failure in the 77th minute of a World Cup qualification match against Angola at the Lagos National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos State on 12 August 1989.

Career

Sam Okwaraji left Nigeria in 1982 to study international law in Italy (Rome).

Samuel okwaraji children

It is there that the Italian first division side, AS Roma (1984–1985), signed him at the age of 20. As an unknown player, it was difficult to force a breakthrough at the mighty Rome, so he moved to Dinamo Zagreb (1985–1986) in Yugoslavia and then on to Klagenfurt (1986–1987) in Austria.

At both clubs, he struggled to get sufficient game time to further his development, but the talent was always undeniable. He w