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By Young E. Freeborn, Warri
What could be described as a novelty football match was recently organized by the youth leaders of Unenurhie community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State to honour an indigene of the area, late Mr. Lucky Asekevwe.
Lucky Asekevwe, a talented young footballer, drowned in a nearby river during a fishing exercise.
The match, which was organized by the chairmen of Enurhie and Uruwheru quarters of the town, Mr. God’spower Orunuaduvwe and Mr. Johnbull Odophor respectively, was held at the football field of Unenurhie Primary School, Unenurhie for young and upcoming footballers of the two quarters of the community to honour late Asekevwe, who the youths popularly called, ‘Coach’ as he usually trained them.
Speaking to our correspondent on behalf of other youth leaders during the football match, the chairman of Enurhie quarters, Mr. God’s power Orunuaduvwe said, “It’s a great pain in the hearts of our youths as we lost one of our own to the cold hands of death few days ago.
“The young man was very energetic and highly talented in the game of football. Most times, he was the one that organized the young ones in the field here to train them how to play football. He was doing this as a result of the passion he had for the game. From the report we got, he died few days ago from drowning in a nearby river where he went for fishing. Actually, the young man was an epileptic.
“Though he had died, but we decided to organize this match to honour him and to also remember his little contributions to our young ones in the game of football. We really missed him.”
In the same way, an elder brother to the deceased, Mr. Onome Asekevwe, appreciated the youths of the community for giving them support during the incidence.
Hear him: “First, I want to appreciate all the youths of the community especially the youth leaders for the support they gave us during the incidence. They accompanied us to the river and organized a search party immediately. Thank God, we were able to find the corpse and he was buried according to the traditions of our people. This type of death is what our people referred to as bad death. So we are very thankful to them for their help and support to the family.
“Again, they mobilized and organized this football match to honour my late brother for his little contributions to the game of football in this community. Indeed, we are very happy for this singular honour to him. It shows that they loved him. I also want to thank the president-general of the community and all the elders for their support and understanding,” he said.
The football match which drew together many spectators within and outside the community ended in a goalless draw.
Meanwhile, the community is at the moment undergoing a seven-day mourning period which would end in a cleansing exercise by the ‘Ilotu’ and the women folk as the practice and tradition of the Unenurhie people.
Late Lucky Asekevwe died at the young age of 25 years old.
