NAN-S-9
Mourning
By Kemi Ajayi/ Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos, June 21, 2017 (NAN) Nigerian football coaches have mourned the demise of their colleague, Kelechi Emetiole, who died in the early hours of Wednesday after a protracted illness.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prominent coach in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) died in a New Delhi hospital in India where he was receiving treatment for throat cancer.
Emeteole, played under the Yugoslavian football coach, Tihomir “Tiko” Jelisavčić (Father Tiko) during the 1976 African Cup of Nations where Nigeria came third.
Often called “The Caterpillar’’, Emeteole played alongside Idowu Otubusen, Samuel Ojebode, Zion Ogunfehinmi, Kunle Awesu, Muda Lawal, Joe Erico and others when crop the Rangers International players revolted in the national team.
For his coaching career, Emetiole cut his teeth with notable clubs such as Spartan FC, Iwuanyanwu Nationale of Owerri, El-Kanemi of Maiduguri and Rangers International of Enugu.
He led Iwuanyanwu Nationale to the final of CAF Champions League in 2009.
Speaking on his painful demise of Emetiole, Emeka Akabueze an Ex-Rangers winger and Green Eagles player described his death as painful to football family and the country.
He said that the deceased had contributed immensely to the development of football in the Nigeria.
“Government should setup a welfare scheme that could cater for the wellbeing of past sportsmen and women in the country.
“His death is a very painful and tragic one to football in Nigeria and I am still in shock about the news.
“I think the government is not doing g enough for past athletes who represented the country in their youthful age.
“Many have died; many are down with one ailment or the other without any proper medical attention and this is not too good,’’ he said.
Frontline Coach Okey Emordi said that his death was a huge blow on him, adding that sportsmen deserved better owing to their contributions to national development.
“I was shocked hearing about his death, he was a good colleague and a perfect gentleman who has done all he could to keep his life, but unfortunately he left.
“It is a painful loss since it was not long time ago, about this time last year when we lost Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shuaibu in quick succession.
“It is very unfortunate that he left when his services was still needed. I pray that the Almighty God will grant him eternal rest and console his family.
“The family needs special prayers, especially his wife who needs to bear the loss in good faith because she needs to train the children and make sure they are well taken care of,’’ he said. (NAN)
KOA/KOJE/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)