05 May 2012
Rashidi Yekini
By Tunde Sanni and Kunle Adewale
Former Super Eagles striker Rashidi Yekini Friday died in a herbal home in his home town Irra, Oyun Local Government of Kwara State after a prolonged illness. Sources said the former Sporting Gijon striker was initially flown to the United Kingdom for treatment.
But when his health did not improve, he was flown back home to be treated with local medicine before he eventually gave up the ghost on Friday evening.
His death was confirmed to THISDAY by the Kwara State Commissioner for Information, Tunji Moro-nfoye, who comes from the same community as the deceased striker.
The gangling striker has the enviable record of scoring Nigeria's first goal during the country's maiden appearance at the World Cup in 1994 in the United States of America.
Yekini was born on October 23, 1963 in Kaduna. He featured for several local clubs like the IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan and the defunct Abiola Babes before he moved to Cote d'Ivoire to play for Africa Sports National. From there he joined Vitoria de Setubal of Portugal, where he recorded memorable feats in his football career. His sterling performance earned him the African Footballer of the Year title in 1993, the first ever in the country.
In the 1994 summer, Yekini moved to Olympia-kos but did not get along well with his teammates and had to leave.
His career never really got back on track, not even upon a return to Setubal after another unimpressive spell with Sporting Gijon. In 2003, at 39, he returned to Nigeria to pitch tent with Julius Berger of Lagos and later Gateway FC of Abeokuta.
Yekini also holds the record of the highest goal scorer in the national team soring 37 goals in 58 appearances.
He had featured in several local clubs like the Oluyole soccer lord, 3SC FC Ibadan, defunct Abiola Babes FC and defunct Gateway FC all of Abeokuta.
He is survived by a daughter who is in school in Dublin.
POST SCRIPT:
Nigeria’s all-time goal-scorer, Rashidi Yekini who passed away on Friday evening, is to be buried today
Yekini was confirmed dead in his hometown, Ira, Oyun local government in Kwara State on Friday after battling with an illness, according to the Kwara Sports Commissioner, Kayode Towoju.
Towoju also said the family of the ex-Nigerian star will bury him according to Islamic rites on Saturday in his hometown.
The former Super Eagles’ striker was brought back to Nigeria from the overseas about two days ago where he had sought for medical treatment.
A former Nigerian teammate, Mutiu Adepoju, told SuperSport.com on Friday that the death of Yekini remains a mystery.
He added that the loss of the revered forward is a huge loss to the nation in time when the Super Eagles are struggling to find their feet in major international competitions.
“It is a very sad news at this time when the country is still struggling to make headway in international competitions and also replace players like his kind in the national team. It is a huge loss to Nigeria and may his soul rest in peace,” said Adepoju in a shaken tone.
Yekini, who would have turned 49 in October this year, started his professional career with UNTL of Kaduna and ended it with Gateway FC in 2005.
He also played for top clubs such as 3SC, Africa Sport (Cote d’Ivoire), Vitoria Setubal (Portugal) and Olympiakos (Greece).
Yekini remains the all-time leading scorer for the Nigerian men’s national team with 37 goals.
He was part of the 1994 Super Eagles that won the Africa Cup of Nations and took part in the nation’s first Fifa World Cup in the USA where he recorded Nigeria’s first-ever goal at the Mundial.
SOURCE: ThisDay, 5 May 2012. http://www.thisdaylive.com/
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