The Anambra State Government has unfolded a month-long funeral arrangements towards a befitting state burial for its illustrious son and football legend, the late Albert Onyeawuna, 78, who died recently in Lagos after a brief illness.

To achieve this end, the state government has constituted a 30-man committee comprising of top football personalities across the country.

The committee is being chaired by Commissioner for Youth and Sports Anambra State, Ogbuefi Tony Nnachetta, an erstwhile vice chairman of the Nigerian Football Association. It has ex-Green Eagles Captain, Chief Segun Odegbami, Ms Medline Tador and Barrister Nwabufo Obienu as first, second and third vice chairpersons respectively. NFF top shot, Chief Mike Umeh, Gabriel Chukwuma of Gabros FC, Chief Poly Emenike, and Rommy Ezeonwuka of Rojenny, Mr Felix Anyasi of Enyimba F.C were also named as members of the Committee. Chief J.B Ogufere, Chief Austin Akosa, Alhaji Yusuf Ali and Chief Chukwuma Igweonwu (a teammate of Onyeanwuna) are advisors to the committee.

According to the detailed burial plans made available by Ogbuefi Tony Nnachetta, burial activities for the football legend will hold from August 27 to September 21,2014 across four Nigerian cities: Lagos, Port Harcourt, Awka and Abatete, hometown of the late football star.

Ogbuefi Nnachetta, speaking on behalf of the State Government, expressed optimism that the events would go hitch-free considering the vastly improved security situation in Anambra which is made possible by the Governor Willie Obiano administration’s policy of zero tolerance to crime and the hard working 24/7 approach of ‘Operation Kpochapu’ across the length and breadth of state.

He pointed out that the State Government was committed to the task of ensuring a befitting state funeral for the fallen football hero with a view to immortalise him in remembrance of his contributions to growth and development of the round leather game in Nigeria.

During a recent condolence visit by Anambra State Government delegates to the Lagos Festac home of the Onyeawuna’s, Governor Obiano who spoke through the Commissioner for Youths and Sports extolled virtues of the late footballer whom he described as “a role model” whose life both on and off the pitch was worthy of emulation.

The detailed programme made available by the committee revealed that the burial activities for the football legend would commence with novelty football matches on Sunday, September 7, by 10am, between Lagos All Stars and Lagos SWAN at the Eagle Club, Surulere, Lagos. Port-Harcourt All stars and Port Harcourt Ex-Professionals will march to the pitch of Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt, on Saturday, September 13. The final football match on Thursday, September 18, will be played at the home town of the legend where Enugu All Stars will trade tackles with Onitsha All Stars at Notre Dame College pitch, Abatete. The lying-in-state will be held at the Women’s Development Centre Awka on Thursday, September 18, by 9am. Onyeawuna will finally be laid to rest after a funeral service at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church, Agbaja, Abatete, by 10am the next day.

Onyeanwuna was one of the biggest players of his era. A master dribbler who debuted for the Red Devils, as the Nigerian senior football team was then known, on October 30, 1955, Onyeanwuna was part of the Eastern Region’s Spartans football club that won the National Golden Cup for keeps from 1960 before it was abolished.

•Photo shows late football star Albert Onyeanwuna.

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