The former Vitoria Setubal of Portugal striker was said to have died
after a brief illness.
Yekini will be buried today according to Muslim rites in Ira, Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
He was Nigeria’s national record goal scorer, netting 37 goals in 58
appearances. He represented Nigeria at the 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994
Africa Nations Cup finals.
He also represented Nigeria at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
Yekini played for Nigeria at the USA'94 and France '98 World Cups
finals. In 1993, he was crowned African Footballer Of The Year; the
first time a Nigerian would be so honoured.
A statement from the Commissioner for Youth and
Sports, Kwara State, Tunji Moronfoye, said he would be buried on
Saturday (today) in Ira, Offa, Kwara State.
The Supervising Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdulahi, said in a
statement signed by his Special Adviser, Julius Ogunro, that Yekini’s
name would live forever in the memory of Nigerians.
“The honourable minister is saddened by the death of Yekini. He was
the greatest in Nigeria’s football history and although he has gone to
rest, he will live forever in our memory. We commiserate with his family
and pray that God will give them the fortitude to bear the loss,” the
statement said.
Yekini had a successful international career with the Eagles between
1984 and 1998, scoring a record 37 goals in 58 appearances.
The
highlight of his days in the Eagles was when he scored Nigeria’s first
World Cup goal in the 3-0 demolition of Bulgaria at the 1994 World Cup
in the US. He also played in the 1998
He began his journey to football fame in 1982 when he joined Shooting
Stars of Ibadan.
He left the club two years later, joining Abiola Babes
of Abeokuta. In 1987, he joined the Nigerian football legion playing
outside the country when he moved to Africa Sports of Abidjan, Ivory
Coast.
His best club achievement was at Setubal in Portugal, where he
scored 90 goals in 108 appearances between 1990 and 1994.
He moved to Olympiacos of Greece soon after the World Cup in 1994,
but his form dropped considerably as he struggled to find his scoring
form.
He returned to Setubal in 1997 and after spell at Zurich, Bizerte,
Al-Shabab and Africa Sports, he journeyed back home and joined Julius
Berger in 2002. His last club was Gateway of Abeokuta in 2005.
His death was a climax to a wave of rumours surrounding his private
life. Since ending his career as a footballer, he had withdrawn from
public life, living as a recluse.
Yekini’s life outside football was in contrast to the success he
achieved as a player.
His celebrated marriage to Kemi, a graduate of the
University of Ibadan, after the World Cup in 1994, only lasted three
months and his relationship with two other women was shrouded in
controversy.
A few years ago, he was alleged to have beaten up his tenant in
Ibadan over domestic issues, sending him out of the house. He lived
alone in the sprawling house he built at Oni and Sons area of Ibadan.
An
unconfirmed report said Yekini was furious because the said tenant had
tried to talk him into having a relationship with a woman.
He was also
alleged to have sacked his lawyer after he discovered that he increased
rent on his property without his knowledge.
Last year, rumours went round that the former striker was seen
burning valuable house items at his home in Ibadan; an action that
sparked further rumour that he was mentally ill.
He fuelled the speculation more with a new wave of generosity.
He fuelled the speculation more with a new wave of generosity.
Concerned friends said Yekini withdrew millions of naira from his
bank account and gave to people; some of them were people he did not
know.
When contacted in Ibadan over the issue, the former Shooting Stars
striker refused to react, although his attitude towards his few friends,
players of a local club he supported with money, and daily activities
were normal.
He lived a life of fixed daily routine. He trained at the Liberty
Stadium (now Obafemi Awolowo Stadium) each morning and spent the
afternoon at Sabo area of the ancient town, where he usually prayed at
the central mosque.
He would return home around 3 o’clock and drive to
Olubadan Stadium around 5 pm, where he stayed with a friend simply known
as Uncle Bayo.
The former Super Eagles top striker was survived by three wives and three children.
The former Super Eagles top striker was survived by three wives and three children.
According to Moronfoye; the ex-national team player popular known as ‘gangling’ has been living a recluse life.
Speaking further, he informed that the late top striker has been living alone without all the wives and the children.
Moronfoye said, “you know none of the wives lived with him, he had
three children from three different women and this really affected him,”
he said.
Chanzo:Tovuti ya MJ
No comments:
Post a Comment