Opinion
Meet The 1983 Flying Eagles: Part 19 โ In Loving Memory of Terfa Kpakor
๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐น ๐๐๐ฐ๐ธ๐ ๐ข๐ธ๐ผ๐ธ๐
๐ง๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ข๐ข๐ง๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ก๐จ๐ ๐ช๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐ข๐ง๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐ฌ
Some footballers leave behind memories of extraordinary talent. Others leave an even greater inheritance: the inspiration they provide to those who follow them.
Terfa Kpakor belonged to both categories.
A gifted footballer from Benue State, Terfa was part of Nigeriaโs historic 1983 Flying Eagles generation, the team that achieved the countryโs first qualification for a FIFA World Cup tournament at any level.
His football journey was also part of a remarkable family tradition that produced several talented players, including his younger brother, Moses Kpakor, who subsequently became one of Nigeriaโs respected midfielders.
Although Terfa passed away in 1993, his contribution to Nigerian football deserves recognition.
His story should not disappear simply because he is no longer here to tell it himself.
๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ: ๐ช๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ข๐ข๐ง๐๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ฃ
Terfa grew up within the rich football culture of Benue State, particularly the Kwande area.
The Kpakor family was known for its strong connection to the game.
Their father, Daniel Akuhwa Kpakor, played football, while Terfa and his older brother, Joseph Kwaghgba Kpakor, emerged as established footballers in Benue.
Their younger brother Moses followed the same path.
In later interviews, Moses spoke warmly about growing up in a household where football was already part of the familyโs identity.
Terfa was one of his earliest inspirations.
Long before Moses became a household name through his performances for BCC Lions and Nigeriaโs senior national team, he watched his older brothers demonstrate the skills and discipline required to succeed.
That influence helped shape an extraordinary football family.
๐๐ช๐๐ก๐๐ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐: ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ข๐จ๐ก๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก ๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ก๐ง๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ฅ
Terfa developed his football career with Kwande United Football Club of Adikpo, one of the prominent teams in Benue State during the 1970s and early 1980s.
The club became associated with talented footballers who helped establish the stateโs competitive reputation.
Among its notable players were Terfa, his older brother Kwaghgba and several respected footballers from the region.
Kwande United enjoyed important domestic successes, including the Benue State Challenge Cup in 1976 and the Governorโs Cup in 1980.
For Terfa, playing in that competitive environment helped prepare him for opportunities at a higher level.
He was admired for his natural ability and footballing intelligence.
His younger brother Moses later spoke of watching Terfaโs football artistry and wanting to emulate him.
That is a meaningful tribute from a footballer who went on to achieve considerable success himself.
๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข ๐ญ๐ต๐ด๐ฏ: ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐โ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก
Terfaโs talent earned him recognition within Nigeriaโs national youth football programme.
He became part of the historic Flying Eagles generation assembled under our late coach, Christopher Udemezue.
We were determined to achieve something Nigerian football had never accomplished: qualification for a FIFA World Cup tournament.
On January 8, 1983, Nigeria defeated Guinea 2โ0 in Lagos, securing qualification for the FIFA World Youth Championship in Mexico.
It was an unforgettable achievement.
For the first time, a Nigerian football team had earned a place at a FIFA World Cup tournament at any level.
Terfa belonged to the generation that made that achievement possible.
The tournament took place in Mexico from June 2 to June 19, 1983, marking an important milestone in the history of Nigerian football.
For players who had developed their abilities through local clubs, school competitions and state football programmes, the opportunity to represent Nigeria internationally was a tremendous honour.
Terfaโs place within that historic generation deserves to be preserved.
๐ง๐๐ ๐ง๐ช๐ข ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ
One particularly interesting chapter of the Kpakor family story involves Terfa and his younger brother, Moses.
Moses was also invited to the Flying Eagles camp after impressing at the 1981 National Sports Festival in Benin City.
He had distinguished himself representing Benue State, scoring four goals in one encounter against Kaduna State.
His performances attracted the attention of the national youth-team selectors.
However, Moses was still pursuing his education at Government Teachersโ College, Makurdi.
While in the Flying Eagles camp at Bembo Games Village, Ibadan, he obtained permission to return to Makurdi to complete his Grade II teacher-training examinations.
After finishing those examinations, difficulties securing financial assistance for his return journey prevented him from rejoining the camp.
Terfa continued as the Kpakor familyโs representative within that historic Flying Eagles generation.
Although their paths through the youth national-team programme differed, both brothers demonstrated the remarkable football talent associated with their family.
๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ช๐๐ฆ ๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ก๐ฆ
Terfaโs club career continued through the competitive football environment of Benue State.
He played for Hawks Football Club of Makurdi, the predecessor associated with todayโs Lobi Stars.
He subsequently joined BCC Lions of Gboko, a club that would become one of Nigeriaโs most respected football institutions.
Terfaโs presence at BCC Lions also influenced his younger brother Moses.
In 1984, Moses followed him to the club, beginning another important chapter in the familyโs football history.
BCC Lions subsequently developed a formidable reputation in Nigerian domestic competitions.
The club would eventually achieve major national and continental success, with Moses becoming one of its best-known players.
Terfaโs role in the clubโs development and his influence on younger footballers formed part of that wider tradition.
His football journey also included a later association with Obanta United of Ijebu-Ode.
๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ข๐ข๐ง๐๐๐๐๐๐ฅ ๐ช๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ก๐ง ๐ช๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐
Those who remember Terfaโs footballing ability often speak of a naturally gifted player.
He possessed the technical qualities that made football enjoyable to watch.
His skill was not simply admired by spectators.
It inspired members of his own family, particularly Moses, who regarded Terfaโs performances as an example worth following.
That influence deserves recognition.
A gifted footballer contributes to the game through his own performances, but his legacy can become even greater when younger players learn from his example.
Terfaโs football journey helped demonstrate what talented players from Benue State could accomplish when given opportunities beyond their immediate communities.
๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ง
Sadly, Terfa passed away in 1993.
His death deprived Nigerian football of another member of the generation that helped establish the countryโs presence on the international stage.
For his family, the loss was deeply personal.
Moses later recalled returning home following his brotherโs death and experiencing difficulties when national-team officials questioned his absence from camp.
The incident illustrated the emotional burden footballers sometimes carried while balancing professional responsibilities with family tragedies.
Terfaโs passing was particularly painful because he belonged to a family whose sporting accomplishments had become a source of pride throughout Benue State.
His name deserves to remain part of that history.
๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฌ: ๐ ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ก ๐ข๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก
The achievements of the Kpakor brothers remind us that football history is sometimes written through entire families.
Their father encouraged a tradition that his sons carried into competitive football.
Joseph Kwaghgba and Terfa established themselves through Kwande United.
Moses subsequently represented Nigeriaโs senior national team, featured in the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations final and became an influential member of BCC Lions.
Each brother followed his own path.
But the inspiration that passed from one generation to another remained an important part of their story.
Terfa deserves recognition not merely because he belonged to this distinguished family, but because his own ability, achievements and influence helped establish its reputation.
๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ
As I continue documenting the members of Nigeriaโs historic 1983 Flying Eagles, I am reminded that some of our teammates are no longer here to share their memories.
Terfa Kpakor is one of them.
He was a skilful footballer, a representative of Benue Stateโs rich sporting tradition and a member of the generation that helped Nigeria enter FIFA World Cup history.
His contributions extended beyond the matches he played.
He helped inspire younger footballers, including a brother who subsequently brought honour to Nigerian football.
That is a legacy deserving of respect.
Terfa, although you departed this world too soon, the memories of your footballing talent and your place within our historic generation have not disappeared.
๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐น๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐น๐ฒ๐, ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ก๐ถ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ.
Your family has every reason to remain proud of your contributions.
Your former teammates have every reason to preserve your memory.
And Nigerian football history has every reason to remember your name.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ, ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ณ๐ฎ ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ธ๐ผ๐ฟ.
May your soul continue to rest in perfect peace.
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐น ๐๐๐ฐ๐ธ๐ ๐ข๐ธ๐ผ๐ธ๐
FIFA Legend | Former Nigeria Flying Eagles Vice-Captain | Former Super Eagles International | AFCON Silver Medalist | Football Historian | Football Analyst | Investigative Football Writer | Journalist-at-Large | Founder & CEO, Greater Tomorrow Childrenโs Fund (GTCF)
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