| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sam Ibiam Henshaw | ||
| Date of birth | 4 April 1925 | ||
| Place of birth | Nigeria | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Calabar XI | |||
| Port Harcourt XI | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1949–1952 | Railway F.C. | ||
| Pan Bank F.C. | |||
| SCOA XI | |||
| 1954–1958 | Africa Great Olympics | ||
| 1958–1960 | Onitsha Redoutable | ||
| International career | |||
| 1949–1958 | Nigeria | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Sam Ibiam Henshaw (born April 4, 1925) popularly known as The Cat during his playing days, is a Nigerian ex-footballer who played as a goalkeeper for the pioneer Nigerian national football team who were regarded as the "1949 UK Tourists".[1] It is claimed that he conceded just five goals in his nine years of representing Nigeria till he retired from international football in 1958.[2]
Sam Ibiam's career came to limelight after featuring for the Port Harcourt XI team that got to the semi-finals of the old Governor's Cup from 1947 to 1949, thus leading to his call-up to represent Nigeria in the tour of the United Kingdom.[1] In recognition for his achievements, Sam Ibiam was awarded a trophy at the "First National Sports Award for Sports Heroes and Heroines of Yesteryear" in 1987.[1]
After his retirement from football in 1960, Sam served as head coach for the Aba XI team before proceeding to handle the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation team from 1965 to 1967.[1]