Dr. Totty Okoronma Totty joined Rangers in 1985 after captaining Sharks. In two years, he won the First Player of the Year Award instituted by club chairman, Chief Ben Osi Umunna. In the next forty eight months, the defender landed in America.
The Ex-Rangers Union in the United States is the strongest forum of former Nigerian players anywhere in the world. Totty, was an active member. In death, they honoured one of their own in Atlanta Georgia, attracting Honorary members like Francis Moniedafe and Paul Okoku.
Totty died of Colon Cancer on July 27. Funeral began on September 29 in his Rexridge Circle home, Atlanta. The following day, Rangers Veterans moved to Sylvain Funeral Home, McDonough, for interment.
The Rangers family included Sam Onyeaka, Nnamdi Anyafo, Vincent Chika, Donald Igwebuike, Ikechukwu Ofoje, Charles Okoye, Geoffrey Madueke, Donnie Ikpa, Dan Ikpechukwu, Nkiru Okosieme and Patron, Benson Ejindu.
Okosieme may be a woman but her father, Cyril, was the pioneer keeper of Rangers. She was around to pay last respect to her coach at Clayton State University. Judith Chime and Olaitan Yusuf, were also his students. Chime, better known as, Kamala, caused a stir when she manned the post for Veteran Rangers in a friendly.
Chika, popularly called Macbeth, drove all the way from Massachusetts to Georgia, with his wife to bid a friend bye. He volunteered to report how it all went. Ikpa, also sent in live reports. Both stories came with photographs.
Chika said: “It took me a day and two hours driving to get there from Massachusetts, to pay due respect. I felt so good doing it for a beloved colleague who devoted his entire life to football.”
Mac B could not get emotional. “We were trained not to cry no matter the outcome of any engagement. The game is finally over for Dr. Totty Okoro Totty. We knew it when he stopped responding to our soccer coded slangs.
“Most of us migrated to America and other countries around the globe in search of better life. We could have ended our playing career in Nigeria but decided to take a look at early retirements after watching the condition of other players before us. To retire as a player in Nigeria, is sudden death.”
Between 1989 and 1993, Totty featured for Southern New Hampshire University. The Penman was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2000. He was coach of the Women’s team of Clayton University from 1998 to 2010. By 2012, the Nigerian moved to Grambling University in the same capacity, handling the Lady Tigers.
Totty also taught at Allen University, Colombia as Assistant Professor of Business and Social Sciences. In other words, after coaching in the field of play, he took to the classroom to impart knowledge.
Ikpa said he got to know more about Totty at the funeral. “Totty and Ikechukwu Ofoje were quite close and his eulogy gave more insight. Ofoje’s daughter also read an oration. Totty’s spirit stayed in our midst as we ate vegetable soup at his house.”
Born in Calabar, Totty attended Aggrey Memorial College, Arochukwu. He would have loved to be an Automobile Engineer but soccer did not allow that dream to come to fruition.
When Rangers Chairman, Ben Osi Umunna, introduced the Player of the Year Award in 1987, the defender beat everyone to the first position. In second place was Ejiofor Okolo, followed by Jude Agada in third position.
The 1988 Rangers Player of the Year was Herbert Anijekwu. First runner – up went to Iyalla Iyalla. Again, Agada was third. In 1989, the winner was Ogechukwu Aja. Anijekwu fell to second and Okolo finished third.
In Totty’s last year with the Flying Antelopes, Coach Janusz Kowalik tried an admixture of youth and experience. Assisted by Mathias Obianika and Innocent Obi – Ekwo, some players of College of Immaculate Conception (CIC), fresh from a tournament in Belgium, were called up.
That was how Chiedozie Obodozie, Steve Ezugha, John Agbarakwe, Okechukwu Ejiofor and Emmanuel Ezemmah, joined the Coal City club. There they met Charles Okonkwo, Frank Njemanze, Sunday Iwuozor, John Edeh, Chimezie Nwanaga and Agada.
Other team members were Okolo, Onochie Alumona, Iyalla, Kingsley Ogbodo, Benjamin Ogbuisi, Herbert and Ebele Anijekwu, and Joe Ashinze. The four goalies were Pat Okala, Emeka Amadi, Fancy Maduka and Fidelis Akonobi.
While Ex – Rangers paid their respect in Georgia, former Sharks players tried to do the same at the Elekahia Main Stadium, Port Harcourt for their one time skipper. They played a Valedictory match with Liverpool All Stars.
An Antelope flew across the Atlantic, from Naija to Yankee. All the Sharks in the ocean stood calm, in awe. In death, all flowers in Georgia, bowed. The man who shone in Garden City, is at rest in Atlanta.
