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Ezekiel Otuoma was a beloved former footballer whose untimely passing left his family, friends and fans in deep mourning.
Former AFC Leopards striker Ezekiel Otuoma passed away on December 20, 2024 after a prolonged battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
The football fraternity and his loved ones are reeling from the loss of the talented player whose legacy on the field remains unmatched.
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13:52 - 23.12.2024
Tributes continue to pour in for fallen footballer Ezekiel Otuoma
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The devastating news was confirmed by Otuoma’s wife, Rachel Otuoma, who also shared a heartfelt tribute on social media.
Tiktoker Cindy Baibe, who was reportedly at Rachel’s birthday party when the tragedy unfolded, shed light on the emotional and shocking details of the night.
“We were just in the house when we heard Rachel saying, ‘End the Live (Tiktok).’ It’s like she had sensed something. When we took him (Otuoma) to the hospital, the doctors were not taking him to the ward yet we had told them it was an emergency. Kumbe he had passed away en route to the hospital,” Cindy recounted as quoted by Mpasho.
She further revealed, “The news of Otuoma's death was broken to us after an hour. The doctor did not want to tell us he had passed away.”
The tragedy was compounded by the fact that Otuoma’s death coincided with Rachel’s birthday, a day now marred by heartbreak.
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In her emotional post, Rachel expressed the profound void left by her husband’s passing:
"To my Husband, You left a hole in my heart that no one else can fill the emptiness in my arms reminds me of the love we shared. Your love was a gift and I’ll cherish it always. However, it was so soon that broke my heart. You left on my birthday, and it will never be the same again."
Rachel’s devotion to Otuoma throughout his illness was unwavering. Diagnosed with MND in 2020, Otuoma’s condition progressively worsened, leaving him unable to walk, speak, or perform basic functions.
Rachel took on the role of caregiver, a testament to her love and loyalty.
“Friends have told me to leave him, that if roles were reversed, Otuoma would have deserted me. Even if he ever gets well and changes, I will have done my part. He treated me good and I will hang around,” she said in a previous interview.
The couple, who met during a friend’s birthday party, had been married since May 2015.
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Despite the challenges they faced, including living apart for periods due to Otuoma’s football career, Rachel stood by her husband’s side through thick and thin.
She shared how his illness started innocuously as a flu before it escalated into a devastating diagnosis.
"His voice kept going away, his speech became slurred," she explained.
Otuoma’s football journey saw him play for some of Kenya’s top teams, including AFC Leopards, Ulinzi Stars, and FC Talanta.
His skill and dedication earned him recognition and respect within the sport.
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However, his career was cut short by the onset of MND, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a disease that attacks motor neurons, leading to muscle degeneration and loss of function.
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