Sam Ibiam

Sam Henshaw Ibiam (4 April 1925 – 2 December 2015), popularly known as The Black Magnet during his playing days, was a Nigerian footballer who played as a goalkeeper for the pioneer Nigerian national football team who were regarded as the "1949 UK Tourists".[1] It is claimed that he conceded just five goals in his nine years of representing Nigeria till he retired from international football in 1958.[2]

Sam Ibiam
Personal information
Full name Sam Henshaw Ibiam
Date of birth (1925-04-04)4 April 1925
Place of birth Nigeria
Date of death 2 December 2015(2015-12-02) (aged 90)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Calabar XI
Port Harcourt XI
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1949–1952 Railway F.C.
Pan Bank F.C.
SCOA XI
1954–1958 Africa Great Olympics
1958–1960 Onitsha Redoutable
National team
1949–1958 Nigeria
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Sam Ibiam's career came to limelight after featuring for the Port Harcourt XI team that got to the semi-finals of the old Governor's Cup from 1947 to 1949, thus leading to his call-up to represent Nigeria in the tour of the United Kingdom.[3] In recognition of his achievements, Sam Ibiam was awarded a trophy at the "First National Sports Award for Sports Heroes and Heroines of Yesteryear" in 1987.[3]

Coaching career

After his retirement from football in 1960, Sam served as head coach for the Aba XI team before proceeding to handle the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation team from 1965 to 1967.[3]

Honours

International
  • Jalco Cup – 1958

Death

Sam died on December 2, 2015 at his residence in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.[4]

References
  1. Tope Adeboboye (3 February 2010). "Pathetic: Nigeria's first goalkeeper lives in squalor in Ebonyi village". Sports World. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  2. "Historical Pix; Meet Sam Ibiam, Nigeria's First Goalkeeper Who Once Conceded 5 Goals In 9 Years For Nigeria". National Helm. 17 April 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  3. Kunle Solaja (11 January 2011). "Sam Ibiam:Nigeria's first Goalkeeper". SuperSports. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  4. "First Nigerian goalkeeper, Sam Ibiam, dies at 90". Vanguard Newspaper. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.


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