Former FC Porto, Famalicao and Rio Ave of Portugal attacker, Philip Chidi Onyemah on Thursday led a stream of sad reactions to news of the death of Nigeria’s first woman to be a qualified football coach, Joy Nnenna Etim.
No sooner had the news been confirmed than condolence messages started rolling from far and wide in mournful reactions to the passing of Mrs Etim, who in 1995 became Nigeria’s first female professional football coach.
One of her first roles as a certified coach, after her graduation from the National Sports Institute (NIS), was the Surulere centre of Pepsi Football Academy, where Onyemah was a registered student of the junior squad.
Onyemah, who a year later became captain of Sari Iganmu High School, Orile and for the junior squad of former Super Eagles’ winger, Emmanuel Amuneke’s pet club, Soccer Warriors FC, recalled how the lady fondly called ‘Coach Joy’ provided a strong foundation for his football growth.
The former versatile player, who won an award donated by ex-England international, John Fashanu in 1996, voted Complete Sports Best Discovery in 1998 and was once invited to the Golden Eaglets, also recalled the role Coach Joy played in shaping the face of female football in Nigeria.
Onyemah, who is still based in Portugal and now married to a Portuguese lady, joined other products of Nigerian Grassroots Football Federation (NGFF) in eulogising the late Mrs Etim via their reunion platform on WhatsApp.
“Big loss. She was very important for the development of female football in Nigeria,” stated Onyemah (aka Phenomenon).
He added: “I had the opportunity to work with her at Pepsi Football Academy. She also played a big role in the life of many.
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“Great memories. My condolence to her family. May God give them the courage and strength to bear the loss.”
Also adding a dirge on the platform was the former assistant technical director of NGFF, Coach Chijioke Gabriel Osuagwu, who is now a member of the crew at Enyimba of Aba and earlier worked with Mrs Etim at Puma FC of Surulere, which she co-owned with her husband.
“What a big loss to Nigerian female team,” wrote Coach Chijioke, who had also previously worked as chief coach at Flaming Flamingoes and AS Racines of Lagos, Bussdor of Port Harcourt, Heartland of Owerri and Abia Warriors of Umuahia.
He was joined by youthful Ilorin-based coach, Jamiu Mohammed Isah (The Future One), who was a protégé of Mrs Etim during her time as head of female football at British Council-sponsored Community Action Through Sport (CATS) in Surulere, Lagos.
“Haa, so sad. Condolences to the family. Pray she finds rest,” wrote ‘The Future One,’ while one of the NGFF team’s fans and female football zealot, Ariyo Ashiwaju added: “Rest on Coach Joy.”
On his part, the secretary-general of NGFF and former project administrator of CATS, Mr Oscar Ezinwa Emmanuel stated: “Oh Lord, we just lost a dedicated, hard working, devoted and caring mother.”
The late Coach Joy will also be fondly remembered for her role as a former member of the female national team, Super Falcons’ coaching crew and as the mother of ace sports commentator, Emmanuel Etim of Nigeria Info FM, Lagos.