April 08, (THEWILL) – Chibuzor Nwakanma, a former Nigerian footballer-turned-priest, who was a fan favourite at Indian club, Kolkata Maidan in the 1980s, has died at the age of 57.
According to his old teammate, Emeka Ezeugo, Nwakanma, one of the first foreigners to play for the Kolkata’s “Big Three” football clubs, died following a cardiac arrest at his home in Aba, Nigeria.
Ezeugo broke the news of Nwakanma’s passing on Facebook, with a post that read: “He finished his usual morning walk, came into the house, slumped and died.”
It came as shocking to several of his former colleagues. Ezeugo and Nwakanma met at DAV College in Chandigarh and built a friendship before repeating their chemistry at the renowned Maidan.
In a career spanning more than a decade, the small Nigerian forward became a household name for his outstanding goal-scoring talents, appearing for all three major Kolkata clubs – East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Mohammedan Sporting.
The Nigerian attacker arrived in India as a student in the early 1980s and quickly drew the attention of football scouts due to his outstanding ability.
Nwakanma travelled to Kolkata on the recommendation of his friend Chima Okorie, who was already a well-known figure with Mohammedan Sporting at the time. He joined East Bengal in 1986 and quickly became a fan favourite thanks to his blistering pace and great control, which made opposing defences shudder.
Later, Nwakanma joined Mohammedan Sporting, where he developed a fantastic relationship with Ezeugo, who went on to represent Nigeria at the FIFA World Cup. Nwakanma later played for Mohun Bagan, where he spent a few seasons alongside Okorie. After a brief run with Goa’s Churchill Brothers, he retired from football in 1998.
Nwakanma was regarded by his peers as a cheery individual who provided continual amusement in the dressing room. After returning to Nigeria, he became a priest and devoted his time to helping young people stay away from a life of crime through football.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
