Tragedy struck Nigerian football again
early on Saturday morning, when former Super Eagles coach and Technical
Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amodu Shuaibu, died in his
sleep in Benin City, Edo State.
early on Saturday morning, when former Super Eagles coach and Technical
Director of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amodu Shuaibu, died in his
sleep in Benin City, Edo State.
His death came just three days after
another ex-national team coach and close friend of Amodu, Stephen Keshi,
died in the same town.
another ex-national team coach and close friend of Amodu, Stephen Keshi,
died in the same town.
Amodu’s corpse was deposited at the
morgue of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin City, before he was
buried on Saturday evening in his hometown Okpella, Etsako East Local
Government Area, according to Muslim rites.
morgue of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin City, before he was
buried on Saturday evening in his hometown Okpella, Etsako East Local
Government Area, according to Muslim rites.
Present during the interment was Edo
State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole; NFF Secretary General, Mohammed
Sanusi; Chairman, Edo State Football Association, Frank Ilaboya;
community leaders and residents of the community.
State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole; NFF Secretary General, Mohammed
Sanusi; Chairman, Edo State Football Association, Frank Ilaboya;
community leaders and residents of the community.
The former Super Eagles coach is survived by his wife, eight children, and an aged mother.
Amodu’s eldest son Abdul-Aziz said his father gave a hint of his death during their last conversation on Friday.
Abdul-Aziz, a 26-year-old graduate from
Igbinedion University, Okada, said, “I am getting set for the National
Youth Service Corps programme this month. So, I called him (Amodu)
yesterday (Friday) to discuss with him but he didn’t pick my call. He
called back and told me that he was very busy. He promised to come to
Okpella today (Saturday), so that we could see.
Igbinedion University, Okada, said, “I am getting set for the National
Youth Service Corps programme this month. So, I called him (Amodu)
yesterday (Friday) to discuss with him but he didn’t pick my call. He
called back and told me that he was very busy. He promised to come to
Okpella today (Saturday), so that we could see.
“He briefly said something about death
when I asked about (Stephen) Keshi. He said Keshi was not buried
immediately because he was not a Muslim. He told me that if he died he
would be buried immediately. Then today, I got the news that he was
dead,” Amodu’s son told SUNDAY PUNCH.
when I asked about (Stephen) Keshi. He said Keshi was not buried
immediately because he was not a Muslim. He told me that if he died he
would be buried immediately. Then today, I got the news that he was
dead,” Amodu’s son told SUNDAY PUNCH.
Abdul-Aziz said he was shocked when he received the news of his father’s death.
“We were not even told that he was taken
to a hospital. He doesn’t fast naturally. For the past few years, he
stopped fasting due to his health condition. I don’t know what happened
this year that he decided to fast. When I asked him about fasting, he
said he just felt like he could do it,” Abdul-Aziz added.
to a hospital. He doesn’t fast naturally. For the past few years, he
stopped fasting due to his health condition. I don’t know what happened
this year that he decided to fast. When I asked him about fasting, he
said he just felt like he could do it,” Abdul-Aziz added.
Speaking with SUNDAY PUNCH,
Amodu’s cousin, Akuri Afegbua, said the former Eagles coach died after
complaints of chest pain and his inability to get the money NFF owed
him, adding that his financial status had made it difficult for him to
take care of himself and his immediate family.
Amodu’s cousin, Akuri Afegbua, said the former Eagles coach died after
complaints of chest pain and his inability to get the money NFF owed
him, adding that his financial status had made it difficult for him to
take care of himself and his immediate family.
As the federation’s technical director,
Amodu was reportedly on N800,000 per month but without an office and
official accommodation.
Amodu was reportedly on N800,000 per month but without an office and
official accommodation.
Afegbua said Amodu had travelled to Benin to demand for the payment of his outstanding entitlements.
“I think he died of frustration due to
his financial status. He was not paid (by the NFF). He was complaining
of not being paid and had no money to maintain himself and his immediate
family. I think the purpose of his being in Benin was to put in a bill
for his payment, (from) both the NFF and the state government,” the
cousin said.
his financial status. He was not paid (by the NFF). He was complaining
of not being paid and had no money to maintain himself and his immediate
family. I think the purpose of his being in Benin was to put in a bill
for his payment, (from) both the NFF and the state government,” the
cousin said.
“We were together on Friday. In the
afternoon, he called to say that he was feeling some pains on the left
side of his chest and he called in a doctor. The doctor checked his
blood pressure; he had 140 over 100. The doctor told him it was not bad,
that he could continue with his fasting,” Afegbua said.
afternoon, he called to say that he was feeling some pains on the left
side of his chest and he called in a doctor. The doctor checked his
blood pressure; he had 140 over 100. The doctor told him it was not bad,
that he could continue with his fasting,” Afegbua said.
He also noted that the ex-Eagles coach
was full of life on Friday when he assisted one of his uncles to secure a
bail at a police station. He added that it was shocking when they found
Amodu dead at about 4am on Saturday.
was full of life on Friday when he assisted one of his uncles to secure a
bail at a police station. He added that it was shocking when they found
Amodu dead at about 4am on Saturday.
“Apart from his complaint of chest
pains, he was perfectly okay. We came back on Saturday morning to wake
him up but found him dead,” Afegbua said.
pains, he was perfectly okay. We came back on Saturday morning to wake
him up but found him dead,” Afegbua said.
Ex-international Peterside Idah has said the Nigeria Football Federation owes the late coach seven months’ salary.
South Africa-based Peterside, a football
pundit and close friend of the late ex-Eagles coach, wrote on his
tweeter handle that Amodu told him he was owed seven months’ pay by the
NFF.
pundit and close friend of the late ex-Eagles coach, wrote on his
tweeter handle that Amodu told him he was owed seven months’ pay by the
NFF.
“NFF please pay the ones that are alive;
got a call from him that he has not been paid for about seven months,”
Peterside tweeted.
got a call from him that he has not been paid for about seven months,”
Peterside tweeted.