The remains of Stephen Keshi, former Super Eagles
coach arrived Asaba from Benin by road on Thursday accompanied by his four
children and other family members at exactly 4.24pm en route to Illah, his
hometown for burial today.
Officials of the state government brought him
into the Indoor Sports Hall of the Asaba Township Stadium renamed after him in
2013 at about 4.50pm from a black formatic Benz 500 followed by tributes.
His first son, Stephen Femi Keshi blasted the
Federal Government, saying that “the Nigerian government promised to honour
this man and sponsor his burial but has failed to keep to their promises for a
man that served this country with so much passion.”
After the short ceremony, President of the
Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick was booed on his way out of
the venue. One of the boys who accosted him was heard screaming: “you sacked
him, you have killed him, now go and squander all the salaries you owed him.”
Those who paid tributes to the former Eagles
coach included Delta State Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, Speaker of
the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Monday Igbuya and Executive Chairman,
Delta State Sports Commission, Tony Okowa.
But it was Hon. Onyemaechi Mrakpor representing
Aniocha/ Oshimili Federal Constituency who received the loudest applause from
the crowd as she also blasted the Federal Government for the poor treatment
given to Keshi even in death.
“From the atmosphere in this hall, it is clear
that we are not proud of the role Keshi played in this country. Looking at the
young ones, we can imagine what is going on in their minds, that there is no
reward for excellence in this nation, so what is the future of our youths?”
After that, the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick did
not speak. Some of the members of the 1994 World Cup team filed past the casket
of their former captain who donned the number 4 Jersey. They included Austin
Eguavon, Uche Okechukwu, Mutiu Adekpoju, Aloy Agu and Peter Rufai. Former U-21
coach, Fani Amun, Friday Ekpo and Edema Fuludu were also present but none of
Keshi’s players during his time as Super Eagles coach were present.
After lying in state at the Indoor Sports Hall of
the Stephen Keshi Stadium, his body will leave Asaba in the early hours of
Friday, July 29 for burial at Illah.
Credit: News Herald
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