By; Ayo Ojedokun, Lagos.
The Nigeria Football and other Sports Supporters Club have joined millions of Nigerians and stakeholders to express shock over the death of former Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi who died on Tuesday June, 7 2016 at the age of 54.
In a statement issued by the club and signed by its President General, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, it said the news of Keshi’s death came to the club and they are yet to overcome the shock.
According to him, the late Keshi devoted all his life to sports especially football, playing for the national team before coming back as a Coach to handle the Super Eagles of Nigeria which he led to win the African Nations Cup after 19 years waiting and even handled the Malian and Togo national teams and helped Togo qualify for their first ever World Cup.
Late Keshi had been taunted as a football legend whose contributions to the development of the game in the country cannot be quantified.
“Honestly his death came to us as a big shock, been a man who have captained the national team for many years and opened the way for Nigerians to play professional football in Europe.
“He not only won the African Nations Cup as a player but also as a coach and encouraged home based players whom he invited to the national team.
“Nigerians will indeed miss him and the vacuum his death has created will be too difficult to fill”, the statement concluded even as it prayed that God give his family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
The club also expressed shock at the death of former national team handler and NFF Technical Director, Amodu Shuaibu, describing it as not only shocking but a big loss to Nigeria.
It described Shuaibu as a patriotic Nigerian who was always on a rescue mission for Nigeria during World Cup qualifiers.
“Amodu will always be remembered as a patriotic and industrious Nigeria who rescued the country three times during the Nations Cup/ World Cup qualifiers. During his time, he played fifteen matches, won twelve and drew three. By his death, Nigeria has lost another tactician whose replacement would be very difficult”, the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, the club has declared Wednesday next week as a day of mourning for Keshi and has directed all its members to assembly at the Club’s house, 12A, Ayinde Giwa Street, Surulere, Lagos on that day to mourn him even as it announced that condolence registry has been opened at all its branches both locally and internationally for members to sign.
