Controversy trails Sam Okoye’s death

Controversy continues to trail the purported death of former Rangers and Enyimba goalkeeper, Sam Okoye who reportedly died in Iran after being sick for four days, nigeriasports.com can report.

Media Officer of Enyimba, Okoye’s last club told nigeriasports.com on Friday that he never at any point confirmed the death of the goalkeeper.

“I got a call from someone who says he is in Singapore asking me to confirm Okoye’s death and I said I am not aware since only his family can do that.”

“Minutes later I got a call from a journalist based in Lagos and I told him about the conversation I had minutes earlier only for him to go to press with the story,” Chukwu said.

“As far as I know, Okoye went to Makurdi to see his sick father and if indeed he left for Iran on trials and is now dead, only his family can confirm it or somebody from the Nigerian Embassy in Iran because Okoye is a big player and could not have sneaked in to the country.”

Tonnex Chukwu told nigeriasports.com that up till now there has been no word from the Goalkeepers family and that has kept the suspense up.

Chairman of the club, Felix Anyansi Agwu said Okoye left the camp shortly after their match against Dolphins in Aba saying he was going to Makurdi to attend to his sick father.
[photo alt="okoye" align=right]okoye[/photo]
Enyimba's Keeper, Sam Okoye

“That was why we gave him permission to go but we later heard he came back to Aba to pack his things from the camp and that was the last we heard of him until now.” Anyansi Agwu told nigeriasports.com.

Sam Okoye was Nigeria’s number one keeper at the World Youth Championships in 1999 but failed to make it to the next level with the Super Eagles.

After seven years with Rangers, Okoye joined Enyimba in 2005 but was third in the pecking order behind, Dele Aiyenugba and John Gaadi.