ANOTHER TRAGEDY IN FOOTBALL

Nigerian football icon Stephen Okechukwu Chinedu
Keshi died suddenly in the early hours of
Wednesday in Benin City, Edo state, TheCable
understands.
He was scheduled to return to the United States on
Wednesday evening before he suffered cardiac
arrest.
The former international football player and coach
had lost his wife of 35 years, Kate, last year after a
prolonged battle with cancer.
TheCable confirmed his death from a member of
his family as well as one of his close associates.
“He was not ill at all, never showed any signs of
illness, but we suspect he never got over the death
of his wife,” a friend said.
He is survived by four children and his mother.
Keshi, the only Nigerian coach to have won the
Africa Cup of Nations, achieved a rare feat in 2013
by becoming only the second person to win the
trophy both as a player and a coach.
The only other person to have achieved the feat
is Egypt’s Mahmoud El-Gohary.
Keshi, a product of St. Finbarr’s College, Akoka,
Lagos, started his playing career at a very young
age at ACB Football Club, and later played for New
Nigeria Bank, Stade d’Abidjan, Africa
Sports, Lokeren, Anderlecht, RC Strasbourg, and a
host of other clubs.
He represented Nigeria from 1982, at age 20, till
1994, most of the time captaining the Super Eagles
and scoring vital goals from his position as a
central defender.
He also coached Togo and Nigeria at the World Cup,
as well as Mali.
Keshi, nicknamed the “Big Boss” for his leadership
skills, is the fifth member of the all-conquering 1994
team to die, following Uche Okafor, Thompson
Oliha, Rashidi Yekini and Wilfred Agbonavbare.
‘HE HAS FOUND REST’
Meanwhile, the family has released a statement
announcing his death.
The statement signed by Emmanuel Ado was titled:
“Stephen Keshi CON has gone to be with his wife”.
“With thanksgiving to God, the Ogbuenyi Fredrick
Keshi family of Illah in Oshimili North Local
Government Area of Delta State, announces the
death of Mr. Stephen Okechukwu Chinedu Keshi,”
Ado wrote.
“Our son, brother, father, father-in-law,brother-in-
law, has gone to be with his wife of 35 years
(Nkem), Mrs. Kate Keshi, who passed on on the 9th
December 2015.
“Since her death, Keshi has been in mourning. He
came back to Nigeria to be with her. He had planned
to fly back today Wednesday, before he suffered a
cardiac arrest. He has found rest.
“We thank God for his life.
“We want to ask for understanding in this very
difficult time for the family.”