Samuel Onyeaka won the Africa Winners Cup in 1977 with Enugu Rangers. He was perhaps the fastest Nigerian winger in his prime. His namesake, Samuel Ojebode, did not run like jet plane. Yet the Flying Antelope describes him as very tough.
Onyeaka who lives in the United States, said : “Without any doubt, my toughest opponent was Sam Ojebode of Shooting Stars. He was a tough defender to beat. A very experienced player.”
The height of their clash was in the semi finals of the Winners Cup in 1977. Ojebode was captain of the Shooting Stars who were defending their title against Rangers. Onyeaka was a marked man because he had disarmed AS Police of Senegal in the quarter final.
For the winger, the match did not live up to expectations. ” The tension generated by the game made it uninteresting. Both teams played below their normal standard. That match really divided Nigeria.”
Ojebode did a good job on Onyeaka that the latter had to be pulled out for Nwachukwu Onyekwelu. Rangers won the game through penalty kicks and went ahead to lift the trophy after trouncing Canon Sportif, Yaounde 5-2 aggregate.
In the first leg of the finals which the Cameroonians lost 4-1 in Lagos, Onyeaka scored to add to Onyekwelu’s and penalty goals by Christian Chukwu and Christian Madu respectively.
The year 1977 was Onyeaka’s best. He was indeed hot. Coach Godwin Achebe had a way of bringing him on to wear down the opposition. Yes, Onyeaka was a speed demon. He could run faster than a truck. Ace commentator, Ernest Okonkwo, aptly tagged him ‘404’ after the popular Peugeot brand.
“Ernest Okonkwo coined the name 404 because of my speed, with or without the ball. I remain one of the fastest players in the history of Nigerian football, ‘ he added.
Rangers won a continental trophy in 1977. That is one experience Onyeaka will not forget. His best match against AS Police of Senegal also became nightmarish.
“My most memorable match definitely must be the match against Police of Senegal.It was at my peak and I had everything going my way.”, he narrated.
On September 18, 1977, the Coal City Boys were at the Demba Diop Stadium to face Police of Senegal who forced them to a barren draw in the Lagos first leg of the quarter finals. Chimezie ‘Watch me’ Ngadi put the visitors ahead.
The home crowd went mad. Onyeaka made it two. Madness turned to spleen. It ended 2-1.The victors were beaten like 19th century slaves being shipped away through Goree.
Onyeaka who came in for Onyedika was stabbed twice, maybe, to punish him for scoring the second goal. Reserve goalkeeper, John Uwanaka, got a broken head. Nnamdi Anyafo, nicknamed ‘Policeman’ by Ernest Okonkwo had bruised lips, Okey Emordi was also knifed.
General Obasanjo, on receiving the news from Nigerian Ambassador to Senegal, Emmanuel Oyeleye Obe, sent a Nigeria Air Force plane to Dakar. The players were back in seven hours.
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Unfortunately, Obe died nine months later, on June 11, 1978. He had taken his children who included Tunde and Segun, to swim at Hotel Teranga, Dakar. He was brought out of the pool dead. Again a, Nigerian Air Force flight was sent to bring back his body.
Tunde Obe, the musician, who married Wunmi Aboderin to form TWO was just 10. Segun was about three. Their mom Abosede, was in Lagos to bury a member of her family when she got the news. Her father, Ade Martin, was Nigerian Ambassador to the United States. She got married to her husband in the US, 1963.
The next year was not the best for the Flying Antelopes although they began so well.Rangers wanted to win the Africa Cup for Champion Clubs [now known as CAF Champions League.]. They had beaten Kampala City Councillors home and away in the quarter finals and were hosted by Ugandan President, Idi Amin, who declared himself a rangers Supporter.
The players were tired but the NFA refused to reschedule their games at home. They had to confront Bendel Insurance of Benin in the Challenge Cup grand finale.
Faced with four matches, international and local, in 10 days, the signs were obvious. Nwachukwu Onyekwelu, Charles Adimora and Ignatius Ilechukwu had moved to the US for further studies. Top striker, Nnamdi ‘Camel’ Nwokocha had to be given injections to play.
Insurance did the unthinkable. They defeated Rangers 3-0. Keeper Emma Okala was beaten thrice in Lagos. Peter Egharevba hit the opener in the 18th minute. Henry ‘Teketeke’ Ogboe scored a brace.
The Insurers knew Rangers so well. Their coach was Alabi Aissien, who left Vasco Da Gama Enugu with David Adiele. With Agwo Nnaji in goal and a packed defence of Francis Monidafe, Kadiri ‘Kawawa’ Ikhana and George Omokaro, the dreaded Enugu team could not break through. Emmanuel Obasuyi showed why they nicknmaed him ‘Shakara’.
Onyeaka has not forgotten.” That was my worst match. We lost 3-0. We were really humiliated by Bendel Insurance.”
His last international goal for Rangers came in 1982. It was in Algeria in the 2-1 defeat of RS Kouba. He scored the first goal. Chris Ogbodo made it two.Their team had won the first leg 5-0 with Sylvanus Okpala bagging a hat trick.
Players like Kenneth Boardman, Charles Okonkwo, Ben Okorogu, Okey Nwachukwu, Tony Orji, Okey Nwachukwu, Amaechi Igweobi, Emeka Akabueze and Ben Okaro were debuting on the continent.
The journey that began at St. Paul’s Elementary School, Jos was coming to a halt. It took him to Government School, Awka and Government Trade Centre, [GTC]Awka where he won the Ejidike Cup and the East Central State All GTC Cup.
Before Rangers, Onyeaka featured for Iron Benders, Awka, NCFC Dragons, Enugu and Vasco Da Gama respectively. He earned the nickname ‘Achimota’ because he was in love with Achimota School, Ghana.
Onyeaka is also a veteran. As a Biafran Air Force officer, he was in charge of the Airport Fire Fighters Squad stationed at the Uga Air Force Base.
His family is full of boys. “I met my wife [Cathy] in Nigeria, as I was approaching retirement. We have four boys: Benjamin Nweze, Samuel O Jr., Keneth C. and Kevinc. Onyeaka.”
Kevin played basketball for Pennsylvania State University. Sam Jr. picked interest in American football. Their dad,attended Alabama A and M University and University of Alabama, Huntsville where he also played soccer.Sam Onyeaka, from Awka, qualified as an engineer.