What Did We Learn From Yekini’s Death?

By Obi Martins Okafor

Just days after the painful demise of Nigeria’s finest striker ever to graze the pitch, cries, eulogies and condolence visitations have inundated the gates of his house like ‘rush of water into a damaged watertight door of a sinking ship’. One cannot help but notice and say: “how cliché!” This is especially from a Nigerian point of view. Below are the list of comments made due to the news of his death. Former national team coach Christian Chukwu said: “It is a terrible one. I heard it last (Friday) night and it was a shock to me. Rashidi Yekini is irreplaceable” Joe Erico said: “we have lost a star”. Enitan Oshodi (Lagos State Commissioner for Sports) said: “Yekini’s death is a great loss to Nigeria.” Kanu Nwankwo was also one of the people shocked by his death. “I was in shock when I learnt of the death, where was everybody when he needed help.” He also said that Nigeria should strive to honour their heroes when they are still alive instead of ‘crying their eyes out’ and making eulogies at their death. One could claim that Nigeria plays catch up when it comes to honouring and engaging our former heroes, but for us to reduce this trend of a laid-back attitude towards our veterans, we must begin to find a way of utilizing their field experience in transforming our sports via administrative areas.  

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This article was first published on 9th May 2012

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