Albert Onyeawuna one of the greatest master dribbler in the national team in the 60s was honoured with a novelty football match between x – Professionals Football Club of Port Harcourt and the Rivers State Coaches Association first eleven at Sharks Stadium on 13th, September, 2014.
Both side exhibited high level of football artistry but not like that of the late master dribbler, liken to J.J. Okocha of the 94 USA Super Eagles.
The encounter ended a 1-1 apiece, goals scored by coach Stanley Eguma of Dolphins in the side of the Rivers State coaches in the second half, Emie Roberts equalized also in the second half for his side, the x-professionals, made the counter result.
Joe Johnson, General Manger of Dolphins represented, Hon. Fred Igwe, Commissioner for Sports, Rivers State, described late Albert as a master dribbler who played football with commitment in serving his fatherland, Nigeria.
Vice chairman of Rivers State football Association, Mine Kile on his part, eulogized Late Albert Onyeanwuna as one of the finest footballer Nigeria has produced, describing him as the light of the Green Eagles squad at goal.
The programme was organized by the Anambra State Government, in conjunction with the Rivers State Government.
According to how he started and made his football career, he started and made his fame in Port Harcourt with the Red Devil, hence the match at Port Harcourt.
Speaking to Sports Journalists, Tony Ogbuife Nnechetta, Commissioner for Youths and Sports Anambra State, disclosed that the Anambra State Government had earlier organized novelty match in Lagos State and there is still others that will be organized.
Albert Onyeanwuna was invited to the national team at the age of 19, one of the youngest players to represent Nigeria at the senior level.
He played his first match for Nigeria against, the then Gold Coast in a heavy defend for Nigeria 7 – 0.
In his second match, he scored the only goal for Nigeria in a draw against Togo in Lagos. He had represented Nigeria 26 times over a period of 9 years and played his last match in 1964 in Nigeria’s qualifiers against Morocco in Casablanca.
He won three challenge cups with Port Harcourt Red Devil in 1955, 1961 and 1963 and scored one of the three goals in Nigeria’s first ever Nations Cup match in Kumasi, Ghana in 1963.
He died a coach with Nigeria ports Authority, Lagos, as the team coach until his retirement on April 23, 2014. His contemporaries were on hand to honour him at the Sharks Stadium.
Dignitaries in the football fraternity that graced the match were Jimmy Coker, Mine Kile, Joe Johnson, Jossy Dombraye, Tony Ogbuife Nnechietta and other of his counterparts. ###
