OUR SAM SHOWED CLASS TO THE END
Gate boss pays tribute to tragic assistant Oji
SAM Oji knew his life was coming to an end yet could not resist helping his new gaffer with transfer targets.
Looking back through WhatsApp messages, Highgate United’s summer appointment Simon Johnson now realises that Oji, the respected senior player chosen to be his assistant, had kept a focus on the club’s future even after learning of his own devastating prognosis.
The Midlands circuit has been rocked by the news of Oji’s passing following a short illness at the age of just 35.
Former clubs Arsenal and Birmingham City have paid tribute alongside an army of team-mates and opponents donating hundreds of pounds towards a total of more than £15,000 to help look after Oji’s wife and two children.
His playing career featured Football League experience with Doncaster Rovers, Bristol Rovers, Leyton Orient and Hereford United followed by stints with Tamworth, Worcester City and Hednesford Town.
He also made an impression coaching youngsters at the likes of Leamington with a father-figure style and reputation as a trusted, guiding light towards the most impeccable of standards.
“I have known him for the best part of 17 years,” revealed Johnson. “He was always someone who put others before himself. I didn’t know what the situation was when he sent those messages, only now do I realise what he was doing and it was because he wanted the best for this club.
“I’ve looked back over my WhatsApp messages with him, dates and times, and it reads like he knew his fate but still tried to help us. That sums up his character.”
It was fitting that his Highgate colleagues insisted on playing last Saturday’s Midland Football League home match with Tividale despite Oji passing just hours earlier.
Understandably, there was something missing from performances of both sides with a 16th-minute penalty handing the visitors a 1-0 victory.
Standards
“We are all struggling but the chairman and I were in constant contact to try to rationalise everything,” added Johnson. “We thought it best to pass the decision to the players and the majority were very keen on playing.
“Once the decision was made, all I could ask for was a performance that would represent Sam and his standards. Being honest, we fell a bit short but how can I be too hard on them?
“I have to try to pick these guys and myself up. I will grieve in my own time but there is a job to do as well and I am focused on that.
“I have very high standards and it is very important the lads now go above and beyond them to hit Sam’s standards which were even higher than mine.”
The desire to play on was mixed with a numb feeling, a sense that what had happened simply could not be true.
Team-mate Aaron Brown had known Oji for the best part of 20 years and arrived at Highgate at a similar time.
“It is hard to quantify, it still does not feel real,” said Brown.
“He had kept it to himself and was such a strong person and character. Even when he was going through such a bad thing, he would always be asking questions about you rather than himself. That was the mark of the man and he influenced everyone in a positive way.
Honour
“He was a leader, a big brother to everyone. Lads who had come in only this season, he would put an arm around them, share his wealth of experience and show he really cared. That shone through.
“I don’t think we will ever get over it, this will be a part of our lives forever now.
“He would always be there with advice and stories of all the times we spent with each other – holidays, football, games where we had been in the deep end and dug it out.
“It was an honour to be his friend, brother, team-mate and a fellow father. He was an allround good man.
“The one thing I will take from him is to make time for people and be the best version of yourself, that is all you can do in this world.
“This has proved your time is not guaranteed, every day is a blessing and sometimes you can overlook that and take things for granted.”