Monday, November 6, 2023
Coach Angelo Giannuzzi sadly informed me today of the passing of one of our former Europe Warriors players who was larger than life and a jovial, kind hearted soul.
Europe Warriors Defensive Lineman
Stewart Efeanyina, a.k.a., "The Big E"
from Canada by way of Nigeria I was told
No one knew his real name. He wanted all of us to simply call him The Big E.
So let it be written, so let it be done.
I first met The Big E in Mexico City on August 5, 2017, when I sat across from him, as seen above, during our Europe Warriors first team dinner as we prepared for our game against the traditional powerhouse Mexican college football team, the UNAM Pumas.
Here is what I wrote about him on this blog after that shared dining experience:
This guy is a hoot, 320 lbs. of fun!
At dinner tonight he told me that "Food for me is a game and I love games like checkers but I love food even more."
He also said that he likes to . . . "eat slowly so that it is not so obvious that he has had his TEN plates of food at a buffet."
He claims that he and a buddy of his with a similar appetite have been banned from four all-you-can-eat restaurants in Canada due to their eating prowess.
After watching him tonight, I believe him 100%!
The Big E was ever so photogenic
but he was actually a DL not OL for
the Europe Warriors in 2017 & 2018
After our first practice at the UNAM
campus The Big E just had to stop
at this stand for a snack or seven
As it turned out, many of us
followed The Big E's example after
that snack shack received his all
important Seal of Approval
Standing next to The Big E always made me feel like I was a medium.
During that week in Mexico City
The Big E briefly considered becoming a
luchador in the Mexican Lucha Libre circuit
Did I mention that he was fun loving and care free?
The Big E is #94 on the right pass
rushing in the 2017 Warriors-Pumas
game in Mexico City
He ALWAYS had time
for just one more photo
The day after our narrow loss to the UNAM Pumas, 35-32, at Mexico City's Olympic Stadium, many of our Europe Warriors boarded a bus to visit the ancient Mayan and Aztec Pyramids at Teotihuacan about 25 miles outside of Mexico City.
The Big E was joined by four other
brave Europe Warriors souls atop
the gigantic Pyramid of the Sun
In 2018, The Big E would join the
Europe Warriors again for our game
against the University of Chihuahua Águilas
The Big E is seen here proudly wearing a helmet that he boasted about buying at a garage sale for a mere $5.
This time the Warriors won the game over the Águilas, 19-10.
The Big E being The Big E while
celebrating after the win in Chihuahua
He took similar photos like this one with literally dozens of youngsters of all ages and sizes after the game. Everywhere that we went in Mexico City and Chihuahua those two weeks people just wanted a photo with this gentle giant and he was always more than happy to oblige.
See what I mean?
Unfortunately, The Big E is the second member of the Warriors who has passed away this year.
We lost another kind soul a few months ago when Offensive Tackle Luis Rodarte was taken from us after battling with cancer.
Luis and The Big E
in a poignant 2017 selfie in Mexico City
There currently are few details regarding The Big E's death.
Coach Giannuzzi only said that he passed away on Friday, November 3rd in Peru while awaiting the arrival of his travel team from Costa Rica for a game against a local Peruvian club.
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