Trabzonspor of Turkey striker, Paul Ebere Onuachu has pulled off a huge surprise back home in Nigeria, as he gifted his grassroots coach, Hyginus Okoye a brand new car in Lagos.
Sports247 reports that the huge gesture from Onuachu comes from his recognition of the role Coach Hyginus played in shaping his career during their time together at Young Stars FC of Satellite Town, Lagos.
It was through Young Stars that Onuachu moved to FC Ebedie of Sagamu, whose owner and highly respected players’ representative, Barrister Churchill Oliseh brokered a deal for the giant striker at FC Midtjylland of Denmark.
The leggy hitman’s career reached a high point when he scored a winning goal against Manchester United of England in the 2016 UEFA Europa League, following which he got a deal at RKC Genk of Belgium, where he emerged top scorer and best African player in 2021.
He was the highest scorer in Belgium with 33 goals during the 2020/2021 season and repeated the achievement with Trabzonspor of Turkey in the immediate past 2025/2026 campaign, when he finished as joint-highest scorer with 22 goals.
While flaunting a handfull of goals to his name with the Super Eagles, including one at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and Nigeria’s fastest ever also among his many records, some observers have attributed Onuachu’s success to his philanthropic efforts, which he has now extended to his grassroots coach.
Incidentally, Hyginus Okoye was the assistant to the founder and head coach of Young Stars FC, Osahon Emokpae, who died recently from diabetes complications and Onuachu reportedly spent over N5m in trying to ensure the diligent gaffer came out of hospital healthy, which didn’t happen.
Onuachu, who also previously played for Vejle of Denmark and Southampton of England, had given Coach Osahon a car some years back and he has now extended his acts of rewarding people who helped him with a lofty gesture to Young Stars’ new head coach, who told Sports247 it is the best gift he has ever received from anyone.
“This is all thanks to Paul Onuachu. Now I don’t have to continue walking when going for training. I’ll just enter my car and calmly drive down. It can only be Paul Onuachu. Just one Onuachu and things become easy. God will continue to bless Paul Onuachu,” Okoye eulogised.
Sports247 gathered further that this marks yet another huge gesture of charity from Onuachu, who has also contributed a number of philanthropic efforts in his ancestral communities of Imo State through major healthcare and grassroots initiatives.
Among Onuachu’s ongoing efforts at the place of his origin in Imo State is a very expansive and ultra-modern health centre valued at N612m, which he is personally funding in Amakohia, Owerri West Local Government Area.
The health centre is designed to feature consultation rooms, a well stocked pharmacy, standard laboratory, emergency services and qualified medical staff to be employed as full-time staff for long-term operations.
In July this year, Onuachu gave back to his football roots by donating over 50 football boots, jerseys, training vests, shin guards and footballs to Young Stars FC, while also showing love to less privileged people in the Southampton community during his time in England.
Despite his very busy schedule with Southampton FC, Onuachu participated in local development events, including helping in the clean up of a community space near Medina Mosque along with members of the club’s Saints Foundation.
