Dr Rafiu Oladipo, President-General,
Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC), has suggested the naming of a stadium
in the country after the late Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi.
Keshi, a former Captain the Super Eagles, died in the early
hours of Wednesday in Benin during a brief illness.
Oladipo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on
Wednesday that naming a stadium after Keshi would serve as a ``befitting honour
for the player who won the Nations Cup for Nigeria as a captain and as a coach.
Keshi being decorated by former President Goodluck Jonathan.. |
``Keshi achieved the same feat as Clement Westerhoff who won the
Nations Cup for the first time for Nigeria as the Super Eagles Coach
in 1994 in Tunisia.
in 1994 in Tunisia.
``Keshi as the Super Eagles Captain in 1994 recorded another
glorious feat for Nigeria, winning the Nations Cup for Nigeria as coach in
South Africa in 2013,’’ he said.
The president-general, who said he did not want to sound
political for mentioning the stadium to be named after Keshi, said that the
gesture would immortalise him.
Oladipo who is also the President-General, African Football and
Other Sports Supporters Club (AFOSSU), added that naming a stadium after Keshi
would be a morale booster for other Nigerian coaches.
``Imagine, he just lost his wife, Kate last year December and
suddenly, he too died without any sign of ailment. His untimely death is
shocking.
``When I heard of his death, it baffled me because he showed no
sign of any sickness. Nobody knows or heard that he was sick.
Keshi being carried during one of victorious outings. |
``We learnt of his death this morning, it’s a very big loss to
Nigerian football, a very big loss to Nigerian sports and to Nigerians.
``Keshi, was a good player, a very a dependable captain of the
Super Eagles and that standard he continued with as a coach of the Super
Eagles,’’ Oladipo said.
Meanwhile, Chris Giwa, the proprietor of Giwa FC of Jos, has
joined other Nigerians in mourning Keshi.
``When I heard the news, I thought it was a stupid joke, when it
was confirmed, I was alarmed; May God give the family the fortitude to bear the
loss,’’ Giwa said.
NAN reports that Keshi had his appointment terminated by the
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as Head Coach sometime last year due to the
lingering crises rocking the federation. (NAN)
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