25th February, 2016
The remains of the late Austin Akosa, a former spokesman of the West African Football Union (WAFU), has been buried at the family compound at Ogbeoza, Inland Town, Onitsha, Anambra.
Akosa, 75, who died on January 16, was survived by wives, children and relatives.
Pastor David Chukwura of Our Saviours Church, Umudei, Onitsha, who preached at the funeral service, said the late Akosa lived a good life as a family man.
Chukwura noted that Akosa did a lot for humanity through sports, particularly through soccer while functioning as the organising secretary and as a member of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
Also speaking, the Anambra State Commissioner for Sports, Tony Nnacheta, said that Akosa was one of the prominent stewards of the NFF administration in the past two decades.
“He was an accomplished sportsman who served in different capacities in the various sports unions and associations within and outside Nigeria.
“Austin Akosa belonged to the `can do’ school and took his sports enthusiasm seriously.
“He served football in the mode of the late Justice Chuba Ikpeazu and the late Austin Onwualu,” Nnacheta said.
Okey Emodi, a former coach of Rangers International FC of Enugu, said Akosa’s death was a big blow to him personally and the Ezumezu family to which both of them belonged.
NAN reports that the late Akosa, a.k.a. “Suzy”, retired from the National Sports Commission (NSC) where he had served on many national federations as organising secretary.
The federations include the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) during the Nigeria/Biafra Civil War and the Nigeria Lawn Tennis Association (NLTA) in 1974.
Akosa was at one time on the board of NFA in his capacity as President of the Nigeria Coaches Association.
He served as FIFA/CAF Match Commissioner in top soccer engagements across the African continent.
Akosa also served on many occasions as Lagos/MTN Street Football Administrator.
NAN also reports that the funeral rites leading to his final interment began on Feb. 19, at the National Stadium, Lagos, where a special reception was held for his friends.
The event jointly organised by the Lagos State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) was followed by a Christian wake at the SWAN Secretariat at the stadium.