Donations to the family will be accepted. The family can use any kind of help anybody can offer at this moment to defray costs, since Uche's body will be flown to Nigeria for burial. For those who want to support the Okafor family, please use the following info: Account Name: Tochukwu L. Okafor Trust Thanks, We will be taking up a collection from our ASG family to help Uches family with costs if you would like to donate and cant make it to the service contact ASG via email and we will work out how to get your donation to them. Please make all checks out to Ify Okafor.
Dear Friends ASG Senior Staff Coach and Former Nigeria international defender Uche Okafor, was found dead at his Dallas, Texas home in the America on Thursday morning. The former defender was a part of the victorious 1994 Nations Cup team and played a match at the 1994 World Cup, where the national team qualified for the second round in a first ever appearance at the Mundial. He won a total of 34 caps for the national team. He began his football career at the defunct ACB Football club, Lagos. He then moved to Belgium as was the norm of Nigerian players to join first division side KSV Mechelen. He also played for Hannover 96 before ending his career in Major League Soccer (MLS) with Sporting Kansas City, formerly known as Kansas City Wizards. Uche was a member of ASG since it's inception and was known for player development and moving players to the highest level. He coached the 91 Gold Central boys team which developed professional players such as Gabriel Funes and Ramiro Funes who play art River Plater in Argentina and Jessie Gamino who plays for Tigres in Mexico as well as many players who went on to have successful college careers.. He was also Head Coach of the successful ASG 93 HP Central boys team and worked with many of ASG's top players. His dedication and influence in the game was far reaching , also working as a pundit on American sports channel, ESPN on the programme PressPass. Uche was 43 years old at the time of his death. We will miss his kind smile, his warm heart, his strong spirit and the friendship he showed everyone he came in contact with. We found the best remarks to sum up our feelings from one of our coahces , Greg Williams when he said "Everyone just had a ton of respect for Uche. Not in the way he probably earned other peoples respect ... Through his success and accomplishments on the field ... But in the way he treated others (staff, players and parents). He always took his time to engage others in a positive way. He gave good solid information to the players. He never squandered an opportunity when he was coaching to be at his best.... And the game was never about HIM. Uche kept it about the KIDS and what was best for them." Uche had that unmistakable smile that could make you feel at ease, comfortable and very happy to be in his company. We will all miss the things about him that were so respectful and lovable. Please keep his family in your prayers.
Words from Uche's friends... On behalf of the ASG Florida family we send our sincerest condolances to the family of Uche. It is with great sadness that we received the notice of Uche's death. Andy Warner
I just had a ton of respect for Uche. Not in the way he probably earned most peoples respect ... Through his success and accomplishments on the field ... But in the way he treated others ( staff, players and parents). He always took his time to engage others in a positive way. He gave good solid information to the players. He never squandered an opportunity when he was coaching that I ever saw to be at his best.... And the game was never about HIM. He kept it about the BOYS and what was best for them. I will mis all these things about him that were so respectful. Greg Williams
It’s hard to describe how saddened I was to hear of Uche’s death this morning. The boys always looked forward to having him guest coach for Alan and I personally enjoyed talking with him and watching him work with the boys. He just “got it” when working with young boys, stressing fun and the enjoyment of the game over winning and it was obvious he was doing something he enjoyed. If I feel this saddened, just based on my limited interactions with this great man, I can’t imagine how you all must feel. Please know I’m thinking about you guys and you and his family are in my prayers.
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