Ex-Super Eagles player, Okon Ene, is dead

Former Nigeria international and the Coach of the Unicem Rovers Football Club of Calabar, John Okon Ene is dead. He died early hours of yesterday at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar.

This brings to four the number of prominent sports personalities that have passed on within the past three years in the state.

First skipper of the national team, Richard Henshaw, popularly known as Skipper Henshaw died few years back, and on January 30, 2016, Nigeria’s first goal scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations, Asuqou Ekpe, died.

Before then, former Super Falcons coach, EffiongNtiero, died after a brief illness. Ntiero led the state-owned female club, Pelican Stars of Calabar to win several titles and also led the Super Falcons to win the 2006 AWC title before leading the team to the World Cup in China 2007.

Ene, according to the Chairman of the Cross River State Sports Commission, Mr. Orok Duke, until his death, was the chief coach of the Unicem Rovers of Calabar jointly owned by the Lafarge Cement outfit and the Cross River government.

While alive, Ene played for the then Acada United Football Club of Unical, Rovers of Calabar, BCC Lions of Gboko, Akwa United of Uyo and also featured for the Flying Eagles and Super Eagles among others.

He was one of the most decorated and rated footballers from Cross River.