Nigerians waking up to the shocking news of Former Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, is just one death of many that has occurred this year that will not easily be forgotten.
Virtually all the Super Eagles players and Nigerians at large have sent their condolence messages to the legend’s family as President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, was the first person to sign the condolence register.
Keshi was adored by many and criticized and cheated by few but he never bothered himself much about negative happenings around him and these got him lots of accolades. His death might be a tragic lose to the nation but his works will always speak volume for him.
Here are some memorable actions of the former Super Eagles Captain during his coaching years with the Senior National team and some dramas on the soccer pitch.
Kesh’s playing career started at ACB Football Club, and later played for New Nigeria Bank, Stade d’Abidjan, Africa Sports, Lokeren, Anderlecht, RC Strasbourg. Aside being a football manager of the Nigeria national team, he has also coached in Togo and Mali.
Shocking Good Deeds About Keshi;
Not many Nigerians knew the real Stephen Keshi. The Keshi on the pages of the newspapers was always controversial, overbearing and rebellious. He was a Prima Donna. But he was more than that to his teammates, coaches, fans and benefactors. The story of how he got Ghanaian youngster, Odartey Lamptey, to ply his skills in Europe is not fit for print: Keshi broke the law. He was so desperate to get the budding player out of Ghana that he illegally got him another passport after the Ghanaian authorities had seized Lamptey’s travel document just to prevent him from travelling. Lamptey would forever cherish Keshi as his adopted father.
When ex-international player and former U-20 midfielder Obobaifo died in a road crash in Belgium in 1992, it was Keshi who paid the fine to the local council to get his body released for onward transportation to Nigeria for burial. Obobaifo had crashed his car into a street light, apparently under the influence of alcohol, and by law the culprit would have to pay for repairs if he survived — or the family would have to pick the bill before the remains could be released. Keshi bore the brunt. He also paid for the body to be sent to Nigeria for burial.
RIP to the man who had a rough beginning but pulled his way through, “The Big Boss,” Stephen Okechukwu keshi.
