Titus Okere: The First Ever Nigerian Professional Footballer

In 1953, Titus Okere became the first Nigerian to sign and play for a European club, Swindon Town FC in the United Kingdom.
Okere was a Nigerian footballer who was selected as a member of the "U.K. tourists", a touring team that represented Nigeria in 1949. In the U.K., the team played matches with English amateur clubs and later played an international match against Sierra Leone, with Okere scoring one of the goals in a 2–0 victory.

Okere joined Ziks Athletic Club Bombers in 1938 and later joined Lagos Railways, where he captained the club.
In February 1953, Titus Okere signed a contract with Swindon Town FC, making him the first Nigerian to sign as a professional footballer and play for a European club.

As a 20-year-old, the left-wing wizard was one of the 18 pioneer members of Nigeria's national football team who toured the United Kingdom in August 1949. The team was then known as the UK Tourists and later the Red Devils.

Okere was born on 22 March 1929 in Ngor Okpala local Government in Owerri, Imo State. He attended St. Cyprian’s Anglican School, Port Harcourt, Kalabari National College and the Okrika Grammar School. During a tour of Azikiwe's athletic club, Okere impressed Azikiwe and he briefly played for ZAC (Zik's Athletic Club) Port Harcourt before leaving for Lagos to join Lagos Railways.

Okere captained Railways in 1948 during a successful period where they won trophies.
He then moved to Swindon Town F.C. in the U.K, but his stay there was not that successful. Meaning Titus Okere, despite his lengedary football feat had his own share of challenges in life. And one wonders any who does not have his or her own in this life we are in. A life the legendary reggae singer, Bob Marley, also a footballer himself described as 'coming in from the cold'

However, he captained the Nigeria national team against Gold Coast in 1951. He settled down in Kent, England in 1953.
Okere died on June 14 2023, at a ripe and fulfilled age of 94.