ABUJA – Senate President Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu and immediate past senate president, Sen. David Mark yestrrday, bemoaned the death of Stephen Keshi.
Urging the Federal and Delta State Governments to immortalize him, Senate President Saraki described as a “rude shock” the news of the death of the former Skipper and Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.
He regretted that the sad occurrence was both painful and unfortunate coming at a time the nation is in dire need of wisdom and rich experience of sports professionals like the late international star to stabilize its soccer architecture.
Saraki lauded the monumental contributions of Keshi to the development of football in the country and extolled his doggedness and exemplary contributions that saw the nation clinch international trophies both as a player and a coach.
“Keshi was an excellent star. His soccer artistry and leadership skills remain unparalleled. His days, while donning the national colours and his stint as a National Coach of the Super Eagles could rightly be regarded as “Nigeria’s golden moments” in both national, continental and world soccer.
“Keshi lost his wife late last year and today we heard the sad news of his demise. This must be a heavy burden for the family to bear. His death at 54 is both a rude shock and highly unfortunate.
“Nonetheless, we must take solace in the fact that he did his utmost for the development of sports in Nigeria, Africa and the world, during his sojourn on earth.
“As a player and coach, he was instrumental to superlative victories for the national team. It could be recalled that the “Big Boss” as he was fondly called, made history by winning the African Nation’s Cup as a player in Tunisia 1994 and in South Africa 2013, he won again as a coach. He was perhaps the only Nigerian to have achieved that feat.
“He was a great source of inspiration to his contemporaries, team mates and the younger generation who took to football and are still active in sports across the world today. He shall be sorely missed,” he said.
The Senate President commiserated with the children and immediate family of the deceased, the Government and people of Delta State, the Minister of Youths and Sports, the nation’s football governing body and the Super Eagles over the painful loss.
While praying God to grant the Soul of the departed eternal rest, he urged his children, loved ones and admirers to emulate the enviable lifestyle of industry and patriotism of the late soccer hero.
On his part, Deputy President Ekweremadu noted that, “Keshi captained a generation of Super Eagles that was truly superlative in performance and bestowed on the national team the international fame, respect, and grandeur it enjoys till date.
“He captained the Super Eagles to the 5th place in FIFA ranking, possibly the best by any African country so far, and capped it up by leading a younger generation of the national team to a successful campaign to the Africa Nations Cup in South Africa”, he added.
Former Senate President Mark noted that Keshi “was our hero, a jinx breaker” whose death is a monumental loss to Nigeria and indeed Africa.
“I received with shock and disbelieve the news of the death of our indefatigable Coach Stephen Keshi popularly called the ‘Boss ‘. It’s devastating . It’s a sad story”, Mark lamented.
According to him, Keshi was one of the greatest and most successful footballers Nigeria has ever produced. Till date, no one has beaten his record. As a captain of the Super Eagles in 1994, he won the Africa nations cup in Tunisia. As the Chief Coach of the Super Eagles in 2013, he led Nigeria to win the Nations’ cup in South Africa .”
“He was forthright and outspoken . He was steadfast . He never compromised his position especially on professionalism no matter whose ox was gored. Keshi was to African football what Mohammed Ali was to Boxing.
“Only a very few men in the World has such an intimidating credential. We cannot question the Will of the Almighty creator , but this is one death too many.
“Keshi’s death is akin to one death more than a hundred massacred in a pogrom. Keshi was one of our greatest footballers . He lived and worked for Nigeria. He certainly left a huge vacuum that would be difficult to fill.”
Sen. Mark therefore asked Nigerians especially the football family to take solace in the fact that Keshi left his positive footprint on the sands of time.
To the immediate family, the former Senate President told them to build on the uncommon patriotism , unwavering commitment to the ideals of nationhood and resourcefulness which Keshi was known for.
He prayed that God grant the deceased eternal rest just as he payed that the Almighty gives the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
