It was an honour like never been seen before by the Nigerian community resident in Dallas/Texas, in the United States of America and its environs, when the Garland Convention Centre could not contain the huge crowd that came to honour the late ex-international, Uche Okafor during the Christian wake and vigil.

A high-powered Nigerian delegation led by the Ag. Consul-General of the Nigerian consulate in Atlanta, Georgia, Baba Garba and consul officer Anthony Ogbe who came in company of Chief Felix Okereke, President of Organisation of Nigerian Nationals in Dallas/Forth Worth showed up at the viewing of Uche's body.

Ag. Consul-General Baba Garba, during his tribute both at the viewing and at the wake indicated that he came in his own capacity and as the representative of the Minister of Sports and as representative of the Federal Government.

Uche's American coaching colleagues and parents who are part of the 600 families whose children were coached at one time or another by Uche, some of them gave testimonies of how Uche was like no other coach they had ever met, and how positively he had impacted their children.

Pastor Joseph Popoola, of the Mountain of Fire Ministry in Dallas, rendered an earth shaking funeral service for Uche and for the family as they prepared for the final interment of Uche in Nigeria.

Everybody was moved to tears when the daughter of the late Nigerian defender, Tochukwu addressed the guests during the Christian wake. Many men could not hold back tears as Tochukwu Okafor read the tribute of her father. Uche's cousin, Ugochukwu spoke about Uche's lofty plans for the future which brought about a lot of sobbing in the viewing chapel at the funeral home.

The wife of the late footballer cried all through the viewing, as she and her daughter, Tochukwu did not want to leave Uche behind at the funeral home when it was time to leave for the venue of the Christian wake.

The Garland Convention Centre, venue of the Christian wake was so full that people could not get space to stand  let alone sit down.

More people were still coming at about 5:30 am Dallas time when the Christian wake ended.

Some of the colleagues of Uche during his days as a player like Sunny Ikwuagwu, Charles Okoye, Leo Nwaonuma and others were present.

The Umuoji (Ify's village) community in the USA was well represented and so did the Enyimba Social club in USA.

The house was almost brought down when Tochukwu Okafor and the guests, danced with her Uncle, Ugochukwu as they displayed Uche's beautiful pictures.

Tochukwu was so moved by the huge crowed that she told her mother that she did not know that her father was so popular.

It was a night so befitting for a humble soccer hero like Uche.

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