SUPER Falcons' former coach, Sam Okpodu, broke down yesterday on hearing the sad news of the death of former national team defender, Felicia Eze.Eze, a member of the Super Falcons team to the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, as well as the squad that won the African Women Championship (AWC) in Johannesburg in 2004, was said to have died on Tuesday after a brief illness.Okpodu told The Guardian yesterday from his United States (U.S.)-base: 'I remember Eze as a great person full of life and a player committed to defending Nigeria and Super Falcons. I will remember her as a leader among women.'Eze was a pioneer member and captain of Delta Queens FC of Asaba, a club she led to win the National Super Six trophy in Umuahia, Abia State, in 2004 as well as the National Female Challenge Cup title in 2005 in Abuja. One of Eze's team-mates at Delta Queens and national team, goalkeeper Elizabeth Johnson, told The Guardian on phone from Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday that her death was shocking.According to the story, Eze had approached the management of FCT Queens of Abuja late last year for a contract to renew her football career, but the deal did not scale through. She later decided to join another female club in the city called State House FC, where she was assisting the technical crew before she took ill. Her brother, who resides at Kubwa area of the city was said to have taken her to the village for treatment.An FCT Queens player and Eze's former teammate in Delta Queens, Chiyere Ndu, told The Guardian on phone that the late star actually called the club's chaperon last Friday to say that she was getting better. However, 'we were shocked when our chaperon told us on Tuesday that the brother called to say that Eze was dead.'The late Eze was born on September 27, 1974,and was one of those who contributed immensely to the growth of women football, both for club and the national team. She played alongside the likes of Ngozi Ezeocha, Precious Dede, Semola Akinlose, Nkechi Egbe, Vera Okolo and goalkeeper Taiwo Ajebiowe.She was in Super Falcons Team B that won gold at the Abuja 2003 All Africa Games under coach Ismailia Mabo. The success at the COJA 2003 Games led to her inclusion in the Super Falcons team to Athens 2004 Olympics. On their return, Eze and four other key players were drafted to the Falcons team for the Jo'burg 2004 AWC, which won under the tutelage of coach Godwin Izilien.When coach Ntiero Effiom took over the Super Falcons preparatory to the 2006 edition of the AWC, Eze was one of those called to the Kwale camp in Delta State, but the defender was later sent home. Then, Eze had already joined the league of foreign-based professionals.Two years ago, when coach Eucharia Uche was handed the task of assembling the Super Falcons for South Africa 2010 AWC, Eze was one of those that showed up at the Abuja camp for selection.She was actually in the Falcons camp alongside the likes of Dede, Tochukwu Oluehi, Gife Otuwe, Stella Mbachu, Edith Eduviere, Akudo Sabi, Olumma Jerome, Ebere Orji and Ogonna Chukwudi when the world football governing body, FIFA, suspended Nigeria from all competitive football. Eze could not make it to South Africa as she decamped due to low productivity.She started her professional football career at Ufuoma Babes of Warri, before moving to Delta Queens of Asaba. She left Delta Queens for FCT Queens of Abuja, from where she moved to an amateur club in England. She was also in Doha, Qatar, in search of a professional club shortly after she returned from England.
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