Yekini for burial today as ex-Eagles, Hayatou, mourn exit of goal king

Date: 2012-05-05

Nigeria all-time leading scorer,  Rashidi Yekini, who passed on Friday, will be buried today (Saturday) in his hometown, Ira, Oyun local government area of Kwara State,  SuperSport.com is reporting.

Kwara State Commissioner of Sports told the website the late Eagles star would be buried according to Islamic rites.

We are still unable to ascertain what led to the death of the prolific striker's death, but reports say he died two days after he was brought back home from overseas where he had sought medical treatment.

Meanwhile, the shocking death of football legend, Rashidi Yekini, has continued to generate reactions from teammates, while some are even too shock to make any comment.

Ben Iroha a member of the all conquering USA'94 team described the news of Yekini's death as shocking.

For him. the manner the once celebrated football hero died, is even more painful.

"It's a very sad news that Yekini is dead, while we were together in the Eagles, he was a very humble and a religious personality. Sadly, life after football wasn't too good for him for reasons I can't explain. It's a big loss that's all I can say for now."

For another teammate, Thompson Oliha, who revealed he was on his way to attend the burial rite in Offa Ilorin, "Yekini is a football icon whose name will forever be remembered both locally and internationally.

"I am so sad right now, I heard he was very sick before he died, I wish the news of his death was a rumour but sadly it is true. We just have to rally around the children and family he left behind now" oliha said.

Ike Shorunmu, one of the few close friends of Yekini, says he is still too devastated by the news

"I don't know what to say. It is a bad day in the history of Nigerian football. Don't forget that I'm close  to Rashidi. I'm yet to wake up from a bad dream" he said.

CAF President, Hayatou, mourns Ye-king

CAF President, Issa Hayatou, on Saturday sent a letter of condolence to NFF President, Aminu Maigari, over the death of former International striker, Rashidi Yekini.

"It is with great sadness and sorrow that we learnt of the passing away of Mr Rashidi Yekini on May 4th at the young age of 49 at Ibadan.

"On behalf of the CAF Executive Committee, the Confederation of African Football, the entire African football family and in my personal name, I hereby present to you, to the Nigerian football family and to Mr. Yekini's family our most sincere condolences.

"The one-time African Footballer of the Year in 1993 was Nigeria's national record goalscorer, netting 37 goals in 58 appearances. He represented Nigeria at the 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992 and 1994 African Nations Cup finals and also represented Nigeria at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

"His fantastic displays of skills and talent were evident to the world during Nigeria's campaigns at the USA '94 and France '98 World Cup finals. We will deeply miss him.

"May God bless his soul and give patience and strength to his family."

Before his letter to the NFF president, Mr. Hayatou had told fifa.com, "CAF president and FIFA vice-president Issa Hayatou said: "I remember him well - he was a solid attacker. It was so difficult to take the ball from him.

"His physical strength was impressive. His joviality made him an endearing character. He has made a mark on his generation and received recognition from the pantheon of African football.

"In these painful circumstances I want to send in my name and on behalf of all the executive committee and the entire African football family my deepest condolences to his people, the Nigerian Federation and all its supporters. May God bless his soul and comfort his family."

Source

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

TIIDELab     Aro Yahaya     Hassan Saliu     CCT     Kishira     Ishaq Salman     Abdulrosheed Okiki     Yoonus Lawal     Kpotum Mohammed Baba     Kumbi Titiloye     Kudirat Arinola Lawal     Kwara TV     John Olobayo     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     Ogbondoroko     Abdulwasiu Bolaji Adeyi     Okin High School     Ahmed Saidu Rufai     National Union Of Road Transport Workers     Binta Abubakar Mora     Maigidasanma     Gbemi Saraki     Forgo Battery     Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency     JMK Construction Company Limited     Ayinde Oki     CT Ayeni     Salihu Ajia     Shagari     Ibrahim Mashood     Prince Mahe Abdulkadir     Oyin-Zubair     Odo-Owa     Oju Ekun Sarumi     Saeedat Aliyu     Young Progressives Party     Yusuf Lawal     Gbajabiamila     Radio Kwara     Umar Adelodun     Oloriegbe     Ishaq Abdulkarim     Yomi Ogunsola     Akorede     Jeunkunu-Malete-Bani     Tafida Of Kaiama     Emir Of Yashikira     Lucky Omoluwa     Abdulrasheed Na\'Allah     Hikmah AbdulKareem     Olaitan Adefila     2023 Elections     Ayinke Saka     Yekini Adio     Daud Adeshola     KWACOBPA     Women Radio     Shoprite     High Court     Millennium Development Goals     Mutawali     Saadu Yusuf     Christopher Tunji Ayeni     Oyedepo     UITH     Yaman     Jare Olatundun     Mogaji Aare     Folorunsho Alao     Sa\'adu Gambari     Abdulwaheed Musa     Wahab Femi Agbaje     Damilola Yusuf     KWSUED     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     Iyabo Adisa Ibiyeye     Abdulquowiyu Olododo    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Olatunde Michaels     Yahaya Jibril Usman     Monthly Sanitation     CBT     Kayode Alabi     Kassim Babamale     Roheemat Hammed     Garuba Alikinla Shittu     Leke Ogungbe     Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye     Abdulrahman Abdulrazak     Chemiroy Nigeria Limited     Wahab Femi Agbaje     Muhammad Yahya     Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu     Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara     Zainab Abass     Haliru Yahaya     Babata     Kwara Pdp     Oba Abdulraheem     Yekeen Alabi     Bamikole Omishore     Issa Oloruntogun     Folorunsho Erubu     Abubakar Lah     AbdulRazaq Abubakar Jiddah     Ishola Moses Abiodun     Principal Private Secretary     Esinniobiwa Quareeb     HICA     Patience Jonathan     Tunji Olawuyi     Unilorin     Bibire Ajape     Joseph Alex Offorjama     Tafida Of Ilorin     Sunday Otokiti     Aishat Mohammed Lawal     TESCOM 2025     Quarry Royal Valley     Rafiu Ibrahim     Shoprite     Muideen Olaniyi Alalade     Ishola Abdullahi     Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia     ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited     Abdulsalam A. Yusuf     Unicontinental Construction Company     Muyideen Ajani Bello     Yomi Adeboye     Ekweremadu     Nigeria Computer Society     Babatunde Ishola Babaita     Kayode Ishola     Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone     Odogun Olushola Gabriel     Ballah     Olatunde Jare     Aliyu Umar     Abdulrazaq Aiyelabegan     Bahago     Mohammed Katsina Ahmed     ENetSuD     AbdulRazaq Jiddah     Is\'haq Modibbo Kawu     Edu     Folashade Omoniyi     Ahmed     Hassanat Bello     Amuda Musbau     Mahe Abdulkadir     Oladimeji Thompson     Modibo Kawu     Sheriff Shagaya     Ijakadi     Adebayo Salami