IN his days with the Super Eagles, he was as solid as the rock in the central defence. With an intimidating pairing with Taribo West at the heart of the defence, attackers went through hell attempting to pull a goal through the wall.
With a gentle mien, hence the sobriquet ‘Gentle Giant’, his look was an uncomforting deception.
After an eventful odyssey around the world plying the round leather game spanning many years, he retired. Not much has been heard of him thereafter. At some point, he was rumoured to have become a professional game hunter based in Abia State.
However, he says nothing could have been farther from the truth. According to him, he’s been busy putting together a football academy, among other avocations. Okechukwu is the owner of a football academy ‘Aba Greater Tomorrow Football Academy’ based in Abia State.
This is what he has to say about life after retirement and what he’s been busy at.
“I know people have been wondering where I am and what I have been doing. They have been expecting to hear from me and what my plans are after retirement. I take my time doing whatever I want to do.
“The plan to set up this academy has been part of my plans, but I have been waiting for the right time, and I think this is the right time. My twin brother Emeka Uche and our friend, Emeka Ifejiagwa, who also played for the Super Eagles are in this together.
“I started my football career with a local club in Aba called Aba Greater Tomorrow, in the early 80s, it was from there that then I moved to a Division 3 club called Falcon FC in Aba, and from there I went to Flash Flamingos of Benin, to Iwuanyanwu Nationale of Owerri, before going to Brøndby in Denmark, from where I went to Fenerbahçe in Turkey, where I spent greater part of my football life.
“So when we concluded plans to start up this academy, we decided to revive the name of the club that the three of us started within Aba, that is ‘Aba Greater Tomorrow’, but we decided to call it ‘Abia Greater Tomorrow Football Academy’. We want to start our academy where we started our football careers. We want to give back to the same locality that gave us the opportunity to become what we are today.
“We have made necessary contacts both here in Nigeria and outside to get necessary partners for the academy. As soon as we are done with the finishing lines, the game will begin.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media