The Anambra Commissioner for Youth and Sport, Omelora Tony Nnacheta has said that the state government would immortalize the late Anambra-born football legend Albert Onyenwuna, ?78, who died recently in Lagos after a brief illness.
Nnacheta disclosed this in Awka yesterday while inaugurating the state’s 15-member Local Organizing Burial committee to ensure a ?successful burial programme for the late legend.
The membership included Nnacheta as Chiarman, Tony Onyima, Joe Akabuike, Chikodi Anara, Damian Egwuonwu and George Asoegwu as Secretary.
The commissioner said that Onyeanwuna who also gave out the burial timetable noted the legend would be buried on?Sept.19?at his Abatete home in Idemili North Local Government of the state.
He said that the state government has already constituted a 30-man committee at the national level comprising top football personalities across the country, pointing out that the state government was committed to giving him a befitting state burial. He said, “This is in remembrance of his contributions to growth and development of the game in Nigeria,?? the commissioner said.
Nnacheta, himself a top footballer personality and administrator, relived his maiden encounter with Onyeanwuna years back, aura of which made him know he was with a legend. He said the memory would never leave him. He said that the state would continue to appreciate any of her son or daughter that brought honour to her as a role model to others.
According to the programme of activities which started from Aug. 27 to Sept. 21across four Nigerian cities: Lagos, Port Harcourt, Awka and Abatete, hometown of the late football star would go hitch-free considering the vastly improved security situation in the state which is made possible by the Gov. Willie Obiano administration?s policy of zero tolerance to crime.
The activities include a novelty football matches on Sept. 7 between Lagos All Stars and Lagos SWAN at the Eagle Club, Surulere, Lagos, where Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos ?and his Anambra counter parts had indicated interest to play the match.
He said that the Port-Harcourt All stars would play a friendly with Port Harcourt Ex-Professionals at ?the Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt, on?Sept. 13.
He said that the final football match on?Sept. 18, would be played at the home town of the legend between Enugu All Stars and Onitsha All Stars at Notre Dame College pitch, Abatete.
Nnecheta said that the lying-in-state would be held at the Women?s Development Centre Awka on?Sept. 18.
Onyeawuna will finally be laid to rest after a funeral service at St. Dominic?s Catholic Church, Agbaja, Abatete onSept. 19.
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 Oct.30, 1955.
He was part of the Eastern Region?s Spartans Football Club that won the National Golden Cup for keeps from 1960 before it was abolished.
