A qualified lawyer turned professional footballer, Sam Sochukwuma Okwaraji is Google’s doodle today on its search platform. Today It Sam Okwaraji 55th Posthumous birthday .
Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji 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.
Samuel 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.
Okwaraji had a career in Europe which included playing for AS Roma (1984-1985), NK Dinamo Zagreb (1985-1986), Austria Klagenfurt(1986-1987), VfB Stuttgart (1987-1989) and SSV Ulm 1846 (loan) (1987-1988) while finishing his education in law. In his short stay with Dinamo Zagreb, Samuel scored 3 goals in a friendly game vs NK Budućnost Hodošan. The game was played on 30 April 1986, and Dinamo Zagreb won 12-0. Samuel’s only official game for Dinamo in the Yugoslav First League was as a substitute on 18 May 1986 against FK Priština. The game was played at Maksimir stadium in Zagreb, the 29th round of 1985/86 season. Dinamo Zagreb won 4:3.
Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji was born 19 May 1964 and he died 12 August 1989.
May His soul rest in perfect peace
Credit: Wikipedia
