Stephen Okechukwu Keshi was finally buried yesterday in his home town of Illah, Delta State. That we all know.
But what many do not know is what really made this man great, for he was no ordinary football player or coach. This was the second player ever in the whole of Africa to win the African Cup of Nations both as a player and later as a coach.
Stephen Keshi was one of the pioneers of Nigerian football. It was Stephen Keshi who opened the gates for Nigerian stars to start going to play in the lucrative leagues of Europe, when he signed for a Belgian club in the 1980’s.
A lot of the Nigerian players earning mega bucks now were not even born then. He also captained the Nigerian national team to USA 94, the first time Nigeria shine on the world stage.
As a coach, you can see how he qualified Togo for the World Cup and other things he did for Nigeria like winning the Nations Cup.
Adieu Stephen Keshi. Nigeria says thank you. I hope the governmnent will fullfil there pledge to take care of the kids he left behind, as he has gone to meet his wife who unfortunately died last year.
