Keshi, Shuaibu would have lived! By Orji Uzor Kalu

STORIES that have been making the rounds in the media since the sudden death of two former Nigeria’s national team coaches, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi and Amodu Sh­uaibu, have not been quite pleasant. Of particular interest is the angle that accuses the Edo State Government and the Nigerian Football Federation of failing abysmally to support the two coaches when it mattered most. What I could easily deduce from the stories is that the coaches would not have died if the government had taken adequate care of them.

If what the media had written so far were anything to go by then the government should be blamed for their deaths. I read a most disheartening story last week told about Amodu’s life of misery by his close relation, one Afegbua. According to Afegbua, Amodu wrote several letters to the governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, draw­ing his attention to the huge debts owed him by the state government and the need for expedited action to enable him meet some of his pressing needs. Going further, Afegbua stated that Amodu was forced to resign his post as a coach with the state government since the government through the Accountant general of the state stopped his salary since mid last year.

In fact, Afegbua stated unequivocally that Amodu died of frustration and neglect. He made some references to his last days on earth when he could barely cater to his basic needs.

In the case of Stephen Keshi, it was the same tale of woes. His relation also gave a chilling account about money owed him by the NFF in unpaid salaries, sign-on fees and other emoluments. As if to give credence to the story the NFF has agreed to pay Keshi’s family his emoluments.

But I know Adams Oshiomhole as a very caring and con­siderate person. How he could have allowed Amodu to stay for several months without pay is what I cannot adequately explain. If I am asked I would say that there is more to it than what has been told. Something must be wrong somewhere, making it difficult for him to get his pay. I suspect govern­ment bureaucratic bottlenecks in this respect.

Many questions readily come to mind but one is of par­ticular interest to me. And that is: why do our authorities take action after somebody in need must have passed on? I have asked this question because Keshi and Amodu were not the first to suffer this tragic fate. Many before them had died the same miserable deaths.

Have we forgotten how the ace footballer, Rashidi Ye­kini, died? He died penniless and miserable, yet he spent the greater part of his life playing for Nigeria. Each time my memory plays back the unfortunate incidents that led to his untimely death my heart becomes numbed. Recall that fantastic opener he scored against Greece in Nigeria’s first match in the Senior World Cup in 1994 under Coach Westerhof. That was the finest hour of our nation’s soccer.

What happened after that World Cup when Nigeria against all odds reached the round of 16? None of the players that made us proud in that tournament was ever remembered again by both the Federal Government and the Football gov­erning council. That is the tragedy of our football.

What of Sam Okawaraji who died on the pitch playing for Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier in Lagos? Up till date, nobody has said anything about him or his family. All en­treaties to immortalise him fell on deaf ears. Information reaching me indicates that members of his family have been forgotten and suffer all kinds of deprivations. Did he com­mit any sin playing for Nigeria? What kind of nation is this?

Save for a few successful ones among them all other per­sons that devoted their lives playing for the nation either live in penury or have died of penury. This does not tell well of our country.

How much would it cost to maintain these men and wom­en that offered their lives to write the name of Nigeria in gold in international tournaments? Almost nothing! What the authorities lack is the will to do something reasonable to better their lot.

Was it not when President Buhari made a return to power that he fulfilled the promise he made to the Flying Eagles that won the Kodak U-17 World Cup in Japan in 1985? What if he had not returned to power? I am aware that there are still some footballers and athletes who won laurels for Nigeria who are yet to be compensated.

Why should Keshi and Amodu die of poverty and frus­tration when we have the resources to cater to their needs? Imagine the football federation offering to pay every kobo owed them when it did nothing to ameliorate their condi­tions while alive!

It pains me that Nigeria has allowed many of its athletes and footballers who served it meritoriously in the past to die in vain. What lesson does it intend to teach the upcoming generations of athletes and footballers – to be patriotic or lackadaisical? Patriotism stems from a heart that craves for a way to reward a good done to it. Nobody who witnessed the shabby way Amodu and Keshi were treated would ever serve this nation with the same enthusiasm and candour. The impression created by their deaths cannot be easily erased from their sub-consciousness.

I do not find it funny that the world should be making a mockery of us when we had every opportunity to do what was proper to avoid the current embarrassment. Definitely, it will cost the nation more to make the world believe they did not die out of negligence in the hands of the government.

What our former footballers undergo in the hands of the NFF is the same fate our soccer suffers generally. Is it not sad that the NFF has been engrossed in inter-personality clashes in the past two years when it should have devoted more time to developing soccer? The exit of the Super Eagles from the next African Cup of Nations tournament is a testament of the decay in the Glass House.

Amaju Pinnick – the chairman of NFF – is a good football administrator, but he has been bogged by crises that have befallen his federation since he assumed office. If not for the intervention of FIFA who knows what would have hap­pened to the NFF under him?

It is not in my character to sing my praise, but I knew how close Keshi and Amodu were to me. In fact, they were very close friends who shared their travails with me unhindered. I love supporting them and I did so at several times in their careers – both as players and coaches.

I am yet to come to grips with the reality of their death. Their death becomes even more painful when I recall speak­ing with Keshi and Amodu at different times in the last one month leading up to their death. The last time I spoke with Keshi he told me about the difficulties he was facing getting on with life. As usual we exchanged pleasantries and agreed to meet before he would jet out of the country. Now, Keshi is no more. How has the mighty fallen!

Forget all the negative and orchestrated media attacks against Keshi and Amodu, I can confidently state that they were among the best coaches that Nigeria ever produced. Keshi’s achievements as a player and manager stand him tall among his contemporaries. He was at one time the head coach of the Togolese national team, qualifying it for its first world cup ever. His management of Nigeria’s National Team brought him to further limelight as he led the team to win the Nation’s Cup. Since that time, he has continued to attract global attention.

What of Amodu Shuaibu? He was a charismatic coach who took Nigeria to different global tournaments. He was always called by the Nigeria Football Federation to stand in each time its national coach was sacked. It was this same role he was playing when he suddenly died.

I remember vividly what former secretary general of the Nigeria Football Association, Mr. Patrick Okpomo, said about Keshi after he led the Super Eagles to Nigeria’s first Senior World Cup. Out of excitement and ecstasy Okpomo had said: Keshi is a special gift to Nigeria. He has rare gifts of skill and artistry which he showcases in the pitch.

The flurry of tributes from a cross section of Nigerians since the death of the duo has been amazing. Nobody knew they would be so appreciated even unto death. But that is what life is all about: it is what you sow that you reap. Both men demonstrated uncanny penchant for excellence in ser­vice delivery. Indeed they were selfless and committed in their work and loved Nigeria with passion.

How would they be remembered by Nigerians and Ni­geria? For a majority of Nigerians, they should be immor­talised. For Nigeria, probably, they should be given national honours, post mortem. Whichever way, they deserve the best.

In my opinion, the National Sports Institute or any other national monument should be named after them with a na­tional competition instituted in their honour. These are apart from paying all the arrears owed them by government to their families. To cushion the burden on their families, the government should consider giving them a national burial. Some people may argue that this may no longer be tenable since Amodu has since been buried according to Muslim rites. But there is nothing wrong in making a proclamation to that effect so that it will go down in the annals of this country that he was so honoured.

I find it detestable that Keshi’s family should be running from pillar to post seeking financial support to bury a na­tional hero when the Federal Government should have glee­fully made the offer.

While I make this advocacy is because of the negative impact the neglect of these coaches had had on the psyche of upcoming footballers and athletes. The government has so much work to do to reignite the consciousness of Nige­rian athletes and footballers in serving the nation selflessly.

One of the reasons our sports is lagging behind is because of the poor reward system. And this is telling on Nigeria’s performance in global competitions. The Rio Olympics is fast approaching and Nigeria is not yet ready. As usual preparations will tempo a few weeks to the global Mundial.

There is no question that Nigeria remains a force in global sports. But lack of proper reward system, training facilities and personnel, and sufficient confidence in the athlete has been our undoing. I believe strongly that there is still time to right the wrongs of the past and build a rosy future for the development of sports in Nigeria.

It is important at this juncture to urge the Federal Govern­ment to take another passionate look at sports development in Nigeria. What reason do we have to offer for our inabil­ity to qualify for the 2017 Cup of Nations? While smaller countries such Cape Verde and Burkina Faso have since qualified for the CAF organized tournament Nigeria will be missing in action. This casts a slur on the nation’s image and stature.

The abundance of talents is one advantage Nigeria has always enjoyed. Sadly, it has done little to harness these tal­ents to its advantage. In this wise, I advise the Honourable Minister of Sports and his team to make conscious effort to redesign our sports master plan to make it more functional and robust in sync with global best practices.

Let me use this opportunity to appeal to sports loving Nigerians to show support to sports development in the country. I wish to express deep appreciation to individuals and organizations that have continually promoted sports in the country. Of particular mention is Globacom, which has sponsored the local league over the years. I thank its chair­man, Chief Mike Adenuga, for his untiring support for soc­cer in Nigeria. A manifestation of this could be seen in the marked improvement in the standard of the local league, which has continued to attract increased awareness and spectatorship.

As the world mourns the passage of Keshi and Amodu, let us bury our differences and work with one accord to take football to another level. Their death should be an opportu­nity for us to look into areas that require immediate atten­tion in order to forestall any untoward consequences. They should not die in vain; instead everything possible should be done to write their names in gold in the hall of fame.

Conscious effort should be made by the NFF to gather the names of all athletes and footballers who suffer one form of deprivation or another. Allowing them to suffer and die in penury and squalor is not only wicked but a great disservice to them.

As we bid Keshi and Amodu farewell, we should not lose sight of our responsibilities to their families. They offered everything to serve Nigeria; therefore Nigeria owes them everything too to engrave their names in glory in perpetuity.

Dear friends and compatriots, continue to rest in peace in the bosom of the Lord until we meet to part no more.

Adieu, Keshi! Adieu, Amodu!