Once upon a time lived a lion who had a remarkable roar. Some said he had the height of a stallion, others said he could move at the speed of lightning but all agreed that his colours were that of an indomitable lion.
Born Marc Vivien Foe was born on 1 May 1975 in Yaounde, Cameroon, the indomitable lion affectionately known by friends and teammates as Marco lived and died on the football pitch. Boasting of a successful career spanning just over a decade, Marco was a spark brightening every space he occupied as a football player, friend and family man as attested by the tributes that poured in at his death. The Cameroon international player appeared in 2 World Cup finals and Africa Cup of Nations while plying his trade for a number of European clubs such as Lyon, Lens and Manchester City.
Marco seemed to have lived far beyond the mere 28 years he had just clocked at the time of his untimely passing. Robbed though it may seem African football was, we can take our hats off to a son of the soil who died while serving his country and nation on the football pitch. Marc Vivien Foe collapsed and died after 72 minutes playing for Cameroon in a Confederations Cup semi-final match against Columbia on June 6 2003. He was pronounced dead 45 minutes later after numerous attempts by the medical team and paramedics to resuscitate him failed.
The cause of death was established as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a hereditary condition known to increase the risk of sudden death during physical exercise. Survived by his wife Marie-Louise and three children, Marc’s family have done all they can to keep his legacy alive by continuing the construction of a sports complex that Marc had begun building shortly before his death.
More than ten years later, the Indomitable Lions keep the memory of a great player alive. A man who not only showed prowess on the football pitch but played the game of life to the best of his ability.
As the memory of Marco lives on, what will you and I do to continue the unfinished story he left in the making?
If your life were to end today, would you wish for more time or would you truly rest in peace, knowing you played your game of life to the best of your ability?