Cancer-Stricken Ex-Super Eagles Goalkeeper Pleads For Help

Former Super Eagles of Nigeria goalkeeper, Wilfred Agbonavbare is currently fighting for his life in a hospital in Tampa Florida, US after he was struck by cancer. Agbonavbare, who was Peter Rufai’s understudy at the 1994 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia as well as the ’94 FIFA World Cup in the United States, played more than a decade for the Nigerian national team. According to an email from another ex-Nigerian international, Augustine Igbinobaro who is based in the US, the 48-year-old goalkeeper is in dire need of prayers and financial support from all his friends to boost his chances of survival. Another friend of the goalkeeper has opened a twitter account under the name @dinera00 (#AnimoWilfred) through which he is making an appeal for the football world to come to the aid of the troubled goalie. The account has followed some important figures in World football such as Patrick Vieira, Samuel Eto’o, Patrick Kluivert, Jeffrey Webb as well as Agbonavbare’s former Super Eagles teammates, including Stephen Keshi and JayJay Okocha and has made direct appeals to them. Agbonavbare, who was part of the Nigerian Under-20 team at the 1983 FIFA World Youth Championship in Mexico, started his career in 1983 with the defunct New Nigeria Bank before moving to BBC Lions of Gboko.He moved to Europe in 1990 and had a brief stint with English club, Brentford before joining Spanish Segunda division side, Rayo Vallecano. He was in blistering form for the Madrid-based club; appearing in all 38 league games and conceding just 27 times in his second season as the club secured promotion to La Liga after a two-year absence. He continued to man the Rayo Vallecano post for another four years before losing his spot to Spanish keeper, Abel Resino in the 1995/1996 season. Subsequently, he left the club for second division club Écija Balompié, the following summer. Despite being most used player in his position, the club had a horrendous season and suffered relegation. The club released a number of players, including Agbonavbare to balance their books as they prepared  for life in the Third Division. Agbonavbare returned to Nigeria to train for a year whilst waiting for other clubs to make offers for him. He retired at 31 due to lack of offers and settled with his family in Madrid. We, at ConnectNigeria, wish him a speedy recovery.

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This article was first published on 20th January 2015

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