By Our Correspondent

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare has paid glowing tributes to the mother of late Super Eagles player Samuel Okwaraji Mrs Janet Okwaraji who passed on at the age of 83.

In a condolence message released Tuesday, the minister who described her death as a rude shock regretted that she passed on just when the Federal Government has perfected plans to enrol her in a monthly stipend.

“The death of Mrs Okwaraji came to me with rude schock coming at a time when we had concluded plans for her monthly allowance. It is so sad and painful that she died when we had just visited her and put in a place a monthly welfare package. She was such a strong and courageous woman who took the death of her son in her strides. Considering the circumstance of her son’s death, she exhibited a great spirit. May her soul rest in peace.”

Dare assured that the Ministry will offer all neccessary support to the family to give her a befitting burial.

Only few weeks ago, the Minister had sent her cash gift, provision and food items. He also made a committment to be paying her monthly allowance alongside the mothers of Rashidi Yekini, Alijeje Ibrahim and mother of late quarter miler Sunday Bada.

Dare’s gesture to Okwaraji’s mother came almost 31 years after the demise of her son. The dreadlocked player collapsed and died in August 1989 during a 1990 World Cup Qualifier against Angola inside the main Bowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.