Okonkwo names former Orlando Pirates teammate as his best-ever midfielder

Retired footballer Onyekachi Okonkwo has played in different countries all over the world, and surprisingly, the best-ever midfielder he has shared the pitch with is a former Orlando Pirates star.

Okonkwo, who had stints in Switzerland, Qatar, Malta, Italy, Nigeria and South Africa at Orlando Pirates, says the late former Bafana Bafana midfielder Gift Leremi had a brave heart.

According to Okonkwo, it is that courage; lionheart that made Leremi a top midfielder in SA.

Okonkwo and Leremi shared the same dressing room during the former’s maiden stint at DStv Premiership side Orlando Pirates from 2005 to 2007.

The former Nigerian midfielder revealed how his friendship with Leremi helped him adjust to South African football and lifestyle.

WHAT WAS GIFT LEREMI’S KEY ATTRIBUTE

“Gift was the best midfielder I have shared the pitch with. His understanding of the game was extraordinary and it was a delight playing with him,” Okonkwo told FARPost.

“It is so unfortunate that he left us this early. I am convinced that Gift would have gone on to become a great coach. He had a great and brave heart. I miss him so much.”

Leremi passed on following a nasty car accident in September 2007 as he was returning from a CAF Confederation Cup match against Cameroon.

The former Bafana Bafana star left fond memories at the Soweto giants after captaining the Buccaneers when they won the 2002/03 DStv Premiership.

HOW KOSTA PAPIC LURED OKONKWO TO PIRATES

Moreso, Okonkwo went on to reveal how he ended up at Orlando Pirates when he reunited with Kosta Papic who was his coach at Enyimba in Nigeria. 

“I remember we had just returned from a league game and I was called over by the club chairman, Felix Anyansi who informed me of the deal and permitted me to speak with the Pirates hierarchy. 

“The Pirates’ coach back then was Kosta Papic who was my first coach at Enyimba. He gave me my debut at Enyimba and he was well respected in Nigeria as he had coached several clubs. 

“The meeting which was done via telephone did not last up to 15 mins and I was already convinced. Kosta played a great role in my signing because he was a former Enyimba coach,” Okonkwo added.

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