The Nation Newspaper

Tag: #RIPKeshi

  • Keshi was a role model to us – Mutiu Adepoju

    Keshi was a role model to us – Mutiu Adepoju

    Erstwhile Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju has said that most of them were looking up to the departed Stephen Keshi as a role model in the national team.

    “Before we joined the national team, we were all looking up to him as captain. He was such a cool and calm person who never talked too much while in the team. He was very firm and nice to all of us when we joined the team. He was respected on the team because of the way he carried himself,” he said.

    Adepoju, however described Keshi as a motivator, particularly during crucial matches involving the national team. “We all respect him because he had good intention and he was always motivating the team. When we joined the team, we had a good relationship with him.”

    The former 3SC star said he spoke to the late coach last month, while acknowledging that during his tenure as the gaffer of the Eagles, Keshi brought sanity to Nigerian football when he led the team to win the AFCON in 2013.

    “I think Nigeria will remember Keshi for his efforts to bring sanity to Nigerian football at a time when everybody has lost hope. He gave direction to Nigerian football by defying all odds, with the introduction of home-based players into the national team.

    “Particularly players that were now known, but he took the risk and it was these same players that ensured that we won the title in South Africa. He will also be remembered as the only Nigerian to win the AFCON as a player and as a coach. We will surely miss him and it was painful that he had to leave at this time,” Adepoju lamented.

  • Why I made Keshi captain – Onigbinde

    Why I made Keshi captain – Onigbinde

    Former Super Eagles handler, Adegboye Onigbinde has described the late national team captain, Stephen Keshi as a dedicated and committed Nigerian endowed with leadership qualities.

    Onigbinde told NationSport on Wednesday that he was shocked over the unexpected demise of Keshi adding that the nation would surely miss his service.

    “When I named the captain, I saw some qualities in him and he was also a dedicated player. He has this leadership trait that stands him out so it was easy for me to name him the captain of the senior national team in 1983. After then we were not that close, but I knew when he worked with Shuaibu Amodu as assistant coach and when he took charge of the team,” he said.

    “We will surely miss his service and it is unfortunate that he had to leave us at this time,” he added.

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  • Photos: Keshi’s residence

    Photos: Keshi’s residence

    Keshi Resi
    Secretary, Edo Council of the NUJ, Alemma Aliu signing the condolence register at the late Stephen Keshi residence, Ohenhen street, GRA, Benin

     

    Keshi Res
    View of the late football icon residence, Benin.
  • Nigeria football won’t be same without Keshi – Buhari

    Nigeria football won’t be same without Keshi – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday commiserated with the family of former Super Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi, and Nigerians over the African Nations Cup (AFCON) winning coach’s untimely death.

    According to a post on the Presidency official social media handle, President Buhari lamented that “Nigeria today Wednesday) lost a great sportsman, football player, coach and citizen.

    “Nigerian football will not be the same without Stephen Keshi. He gave this country his all. May his soul rest in peace,” he summed.

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  • Autopsy will determine cause of Keshi’s death – Family

    Autopsy will determine cause of Keshi’s death – Family

    A member of the late Stephen Keshi’s family, Rickey Aburime, has said a toxicological autopsy will determine the actual cause of the ex-Super Eagles coach’s death.

    Keshi died at Faith Mediplex hospital in Benin, Edo State, where he was rushed to at about 11:30pm on Tuesday.

    Rickey warned against speculation about the cause of Keshi’s death and debunked media reports that Keshi died of heart attack.

    He said Keshi was meeting some friends and family members at his Benin City resident when he suddenly fell sick.

    According to Aburime, it took less than 15 minutes to rush the ex-Super Eagles captain to the hospital after the crisis started but was already dead by the time they got to the hospital.

    He said: “All of a sudden, they that noticed his countenance changed and he was not okay. The person with him called Ebuka and they rushed him to the hospital. He was dead by the time they got to the hospital. A nurse that checked him said there was no pulse. Doctors later confirmed him dead.

    “After the confirmation, as he was not a patient of the hospital, they could not write any report or present any death certificate. They said we must bring the police report and the police came to inspect the body. I am about to take the corpse to Stella Obasanjo hospital pending the autopsy which the family want to do. Dr. Wilson Akhiwu will conduct the autopsy.”

    “There is no official statement as to the cause of death. There will be no embalming. It was sudden and we don’t want anybody to speculate. There was no sign of ill health and Keshi has not complained of any recently.”

  • Footballing world mourns Keshi

    Footballing world mourns Keshi

    Football lovers, fans and umpires around the world on Wednesday mourn the shocking death of former Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi, popularly known as the Big Boss.

    Following the announcement of Keshi’s death, the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) said: “His influence on the pitch cannot be underestimated. He enjoyed a successful club career in his home continent before exporting his talents to Europe, starring in cup and league-winning Anderlecht sides and endearing himself to Strasbourg fans in France with a stunning long range goal against Rennes that helped promote Le Racing to Ligue 1.

    Throughout his stellar playing and managerial career, ‘Big Boss’ certainly allowed fans, team-mates and his own players themselves to dream. Tributes from around the footballing world have poured in for Keshi, after his tragic and sudden passing at the age of 54.

    Chelsea Football Club of England acknowledged the coaching impact of late Keshi in making great players like Victor Moses and John Obi Mikel, both football players at Chelsea FC. The English club took to its social media platform to say: “All at CFC are saddened to hear of former Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi’s death. He worked with Mikel & Victor Moses

    Similarly, Fatima Samoura, first female FIFA’s Secretary General appointed on 13 May 2016, expressed her great shock at the news when she posted on her social media handle saying:

    Brown Ideye, Nigeria’s central striker who plays his football with Greek club Olympiacos FC was not left out as he laments the tragic departure of  Big Boss from planet earth. Ideye in his social media post said: “This is one of the saddest days of my life?. I will never forget the happy days, you coached me. RIP Big boss?? pic.twitter.com/mqNhFhFzK3

    Other football bodies and individuals around the world as follow:

     

    FIFA further said in its article that it is Keshi’s international career that will perhaps evoke the strongest memories though. As well as playing his part in that memorable AFCON title in 1994, he helped guide the Super Eagles to their first FIFA World Cup™, playing five games on the road to the USA before featuring just once at the finals (as captain) due to injury.

    “With many African countries looking for coaching experience from outside the continent to lead their countries at major tournaments, Keshi was a beacon of hope for coaches from the mother continent. Not only was he the first Nigerian to lead his country to the AFCON title, he was the first African coach to lead a team to the Round of 16 at a World Cup, achieving that feat at Brazil 2014,” the world football governing body noted.

    The social media is agog with messages of condolence after news of Keshi’s death stunned the global footballing community.

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  • Ex- Super Eagles coach Keshi is dead

    Ex- Super Eagles coach Keshi is dead

    Former coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, is dead.

    Keshi, 54, popularly known as the big boss, reportedly died of cardiac arrest in the early hours of Wednesday in Benin, Edo State.

    His death was confirmed in a statement issued by the family and signed by Emmanuel Ado, titled: “Stephen Keshi (CON) has gone to be with his wife.”

    “With thanksgiving to God, the Ogbuenyi Fredrick Keshi family of Illah in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, announces the death of Mr. Stephen Okechukwu Chinedu Keshi.

    “Our son, brother, father, father-in-law,brother-in-law, has gone to be with his wife of 35 years (Nkem), Mrs. Kate Keshi, who passed on on the 9th of  December 2015.

    “Since her death, Keshi has been in mourning. He came back to Nigeria to be with her. He had planned to fly back today Wednesday, before he suffered a cardiac arrest. He has found rest.

    “We thank God for his life.

    “We want to ask for understanding in this very difficult time for the family,” Ado stated.