Lady Chinyere Nwanegbu, née Onuoha, a former captain of Nigeria’s women’s volleyball side and ex-national team coach, has died after reportedly slumping in Abuja.
Known widely as Mbeke, a name linked to her home community in Isiala Mbano, Imo State, Nwanegbu had travelled to Abuja on Sunday for the second stage of the Comptroller General of Customs Volleyball Premier League when the reported incident happened.
Mrs Obi Lucy Nkechi of the Imo Sports Commission paid tribute to Nwanegbu as a friendly and familiar personality within volleyball. She said the late former international was “very jovial” and someone who “minded her business.”
The commission’s public relations officer, Mrs Constance Okoye, highlighted Nwanegbu’s dedication to the game. Okoye said she was “very serious about volleyball” and noted that her outstanding ability brought her Most Valuable Player awards in tournaments both within Nigeria and internationally.
Nwanegbu played for Nigeria before later taking charge of the women’s national team as coach. Her passing is a major loss for the sport, which she continued to support and serve long after ending her playing days.
