•Calls of Sports Minister to fulfill promise

•Mark condoles Oshiomhole

By Celestine Okafor, Abuja and Oladeji Oluwafemi, Lagos

Wife of the late former Super Eagles midfielder, Thompson Oliha, Mrs. Iris Oliha, has revealed that her husband’s only regret was the unfulfilled house the Federal Government promised him and the class of 1994 Super Eagles team for winning the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.

The Federal Government had promised each of the Super Eagles players that won the Cup in Tunisia a house. Some got and a few others are yet to get theirs.

Unfortunately, Oliha happens to fall into the category of the unlucky ones.

The wife said in Ilorin on Monday that if there was anything her late husband wished fulfilled in his life time it was the house promised by the federal government. According to her, Thompson never wanted to die until government fulfills the promise made to him and some of his colleagues.

“He did say that he doesn’t want to die before receiving the house government promised because Uche Okafor and Rashidi Yekini died without receiving theirs. Steven Edema is still alive, though he is yet to get his,” she said.

While denying the rumour that her late husband had long been ill, she said, “He was not sick neither did he complain of any ailment. We had our normal discussion because we did discuss a lot,” noting that her last moment with him was a discussion on some players from Kano that would arrive Ilorin for a trial at the Kwara Football Academy.

“He went to work on Saturday because they played a match. He came back to take his shower.

“On Wednesday, they also went to Ibadan to play a match with the 3SC. So if he was sick, would he have traveled to Ibadan?”, she queried.

She asserted that her late husband was passionate about the development of Nigerian football, explaining that his utmost wish was to assist Nigerian footballers to manage their wealth with a belief that there was always life after football career.

She called on Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, to look into the matter and assist those yet to get theirs to get their houses.

Oliha died in Ilorin in the early hour of Sunday at the aged of 44. He was survived by his aged mother, Mrs Alice Oliha, the wife and a four year-old daughter, Patrice. Until his death, Oliha was a coach with the Kwara Football Academy, Ilorin.

Meanwhile, President of the Senate, David Mark has described Oliha’s death as a tragedy to soccer and a loss to the nation.

In a statement on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, Mark in a condolence message to the Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, said Nigeria has lost one of its soccer heroes. He said that Oliha would be remembered for his patriotism and commitment to the ideals of nationhood.

Mark noted that Oliha’s would have a pride of place in the history of the Nigerian football as one of those who brought honour and glory to his father land. He urged the government and people of Edo State especially the bereaved family to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a worthy life and left a positive imprint on the sand of time.

Mark prayed that God in His infinite mercies grant the deceased eternal rest just as he prayed for the family to have the courage and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.