Achieving greatness was not far-fetched for young, up and coming defender Pascal Ejiofor Onya, but for a wicked knee injury in Belgium, IKENWA NNABUOGOR recounts how it all went wrong…
Pascal Ejiofor Onya would most probably be one of the best central defenders that would have come out of Africa had a cruel knee injury not cut his illustrious career short and ultimately put paid to it.
Moulded and styled in the form of ex-France international Marcel Dessaily, “Ejor” had everything going for him in Belgium, where he started for modest Waregem, and was headed to the top of his career but suddenly his career grounded to an abrupt halt.
Sourced from Nimo, Anambra State, Onya had everything going for him and expectedly he was on the train to Belgium to star for modest side Waregem.
He was tall, confident, skillful, daring, big, reliable, assured and most importantly had eye for goals. He was complete!
Waregem were only waiting for the top spenders to price their most prized acquisition from Nigeria because he was destined to swell the Belgian club’s bank balance as top two clubs in England were waiting to pounce on the budding star.
But alas, injury struck and all the club’s hopes and his personal ambitions came crashing all in one crazy knee injury he copped during a league game against Harelbeke in 1995.
“What I thought was an injury that would take me through treatment table for at least two weeks would sadly signal the end of my career,” a sad ‘Ejor’ told SCORENigeria
“It was a very scary knee injury that got all our fans crying when they learned I was not going to back on the pitch.
“The injury needed seven surgeries, but still I wasn’t back to pitch.
“The emotions were unprecedented from the fans who thronged my hospital and home to wish me to recover to be back on the pitch.”
Indeed, the former Plateau United central defender was only waiting for his Super Eagles chance before the injury struck.
‘Ejor’ had arrived Belgium when the likes of Austin Eguavoen at Kortjrik, Chidi Nwanu at SK Beveren and later RSC Anderlecht and Uche Okafor were the big names in the Eagles’ squad playing in Belgium.
His commanding presence in the heart of Waregem defence had the Belgian press predicting it was a matter of time before he was considered for a place in his national team.
“I was far younger than Eguavoen and Nwanu and was seriously fast rising,” he recalled.
“I knew it was a matter of time before Eagles came knocking and the full promises and encouragement I got from Waregem were still going to make things happen for me.
“Moving to England which was on the cards for me was also a great factor pointing my way to Eagles.”
In the beginning, ‘Ejor’ showed huge promise growing up at Nimo, his hometown, as a schoolboy.
Soccer watchers who lived in the east knew he was in the A-list of potential players who were waiting to explode.
He was still at St.Michael’s Comprehensive Secondary School, Nimo, when he signed for Premier Breweries FC, Onitsha. Despite his young age, he was making the starting line-up and proving his quality.
Plateau United raised his bar and he went on to captain the Jos-based side. Expectedly, Belgium came calling as it was a popular destination for Nigerian players then.
‘Ejor’ was a rock in the heart of Waregem defence where he enjoyed solid relationship with their top scorer Guinea ex-international Souleyman Oulare. He provided so much cover at the rear when Oulare peppered defenders in the Belgian league on his way to emerging Waregem top scorer, before he took him trade to bigger club RC Genk.
It was sadly not to be for the rugged defender just like Oulare, his friend moved on, leaving sad memories for the Waregem fans who believed in him so much.
Waregem didn’t abandon their most prized defender as they organised a testimonial/charity game for ‘Ejor’ against Anderlecht as the Nimo-born star signed off.
“The farewell game against Anderlecht was then the first of its kind for any Waregem player and that showed how much they cherished me,” he said.
“Emotions took over the 15,000-packed stadium and fans were crying but what can I do?
“Waregem didn’t abandon me because they gave me a job when my contract ran out in 1996.”
He settled in Belgium and today he’s a family man with his son, Quinten, following in his footsteps.
Perhaps, he could now be the one to actualise his dad’s dreams, which were cut short by an
injury.
I followed Ejor in our school and after school at premier fc onitsha with Uche Anike who is also from our town Nimo. it was shocking receiving the news through daily newspaper at Onitsha, i wish him well as his son is coming to fulfil the dream.