Posted: May 08, 2012
Former national team player, Thompson Oliha, recollects memories of how late Rashidi Yekini encouraged him to command a regular place in the Super Eagles. He spoke with IZUCHUKWU OKOSI
Rashidi Yekini who was your teammate in the national team for quite a while in the 90's is dead. What kind of a person was he both on and off the pitch?
Rashidi was somebody who does not talk too much. He was someone you could refer to as an introvert. He was always by himself.
Did that have an effect on his relationship with his teammates?
Personally, he was always encouraging me when I found it difficult to break into the Super Eagles. I was the only home-based player who eventually played regularly for the Eagles, although Isaac Semitoje also played a couple of times. In fact, there was mixed feelings on my invitations to the national team. He once told me: "Never give up"; and that always spurred me in giving my best in the Super Eagles. He was a striker who loves to score goals. Yekini was simply Nigeria's best all-time striker and really the best in Africa during our days.
Most Nigerians are of the opinion that the federal government and Nigeria Football Federation never really cared for him while he was alive. What is your reaction to that?
That assertion is arguably correct because after the Tunisia '94 Africa Cup of Nations, the Federal Government pledged us houses in Abuja, Lagos and Ibadan, but most of us have not seen the houses up till now. Such things could have demoralised any player or former player and who knows in Yekini’s case?
But apart from the unfulfilled promise of houses, do you know if Yekini had marital issues that could have unsettled him?
I did not know any. I'm not supposed to interfere in his private matters but to the best of my knowledge, Yekini never complained of anything to his then teammates. He was however very charitable when he was approaching his last days.
Complete Sports was present during his wedding reception in 1994 at D'Rovans Hotel Ibadan and most of his colleagues were noticeably absent except for few. What could have prompted such absence?
Yekini held his wedding soon after the World Cup campaign and some of us had gone for our deserved holidays but most of us were still there. I was there, Ajibade Babalade and Mutiu Adepoju were there.
We still paid him and his wife visits. I don't want to dwell too much on it and for those who did not attend it, they should answer for themselves, let's not read meanings to that. Our relationship with him was okay.
How best can he be immortalized?
The best respect Nigeria will give to Yekini is to take care of his family. Nothing is too much for Yekini because he was a hero and should be given the respect that he deserves. When we are gone, it’s what we did on this earth that we will be best remembered for. Yekini was a legend and it was not good that he was left to live in penury after good service to his fatherland. The NFF have decided to pick either Owerri or Calabar for the Super Eagles World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers in June. Where would you say is the best venue for the games?
I don't have any favourite venue, anywhere the NFF decide to host the game is okay by me. The national team belongs to all Nigerians. But most importantly, what matters is that the security of players, coaches and spectators should be taken into consideration.
The season in Europe is almost finished. How would you rate the performance of Nigerian players?
I want to say that John Obi Mikel has really improved tremendously under Roberto Di Matteo. Under Andre Villas-Boas, he didn't play regularly but now, the current coach trusts him and we're beginning to see the best of Mikel. Joel Obi has also impressed me in Italy. Yakubu has continued to prove that he is prolific in front of goal and Osaze too has been impressive. These players are my pick for the season.
And Mikel has now won his fourth FA Cup medal...
(Cuts in)… I was happy for him because it’s not a mean feat.
Stephen Keshi invited 26 home-based players and five foreign-based for the international friendly against Peru on the 23rd of this month. What is your assessment of the payers that made the cut for the game?
Keshi is in charge of the team, and we should all give him the support he needs. He was a good player when we played for the Super Eagles. Clemence Westerhof was given more than five years to rebuild the national team, so let's give Keshi the same. He believes that five foreign-based players are enough for him for that friendly. Most of the foreign-based players will be coming home from a very tired campaign and he is still going to work with many of them anyway.
Thank you for sparing your time to talk to Complete Sports…
It’s my pleasure speaking with you. I want to use this medium again to ask that God gives Yekini's family the fortitude to bear the loss. I couldn't attend the burial because as a Muslim, he was buried within 24 hours but those of us who played with him will still pay a condolence visit to his family.
Rashidi Yekini who was your teammate in the national team for quite a while in the 90's is dead. What kind of a person was he both on and off the pitch?
Rashidi was somebody who does not talk too much. He was someone you could refer to as an introvert. He was always by himself.
Did that have an effect on his relationship with his teammates?
Personally, he was always encouraging me when I found it difficult to break into the Super Eagles. I was the only home-based player who eventually played regularly for the Eagles, although Isaac Semitoje also played a couple of times. In fact, there was mixed feelings on my invitations to the national team. He once told me: "Never give up"; and that always spurred me in giving my best in the Super Eagles. He was a striker who loves to score goals. Yekini was simply Nigeria's best all-time striker and really the best in Africa during our days.
Most Nigerians are of the opinion that the federal government and Nigeria Football Federation never really cared for him while he was alive. What is your reaction to that?
That assertion is arguably correct because after the Tunisia '94 Africa Cup of Nations, the Federal Government pledged us houses in Abuja, Lagos and Ibadan, but most of us have not seen the houses up till now. Such things could have demoralised any player or former player and who knows in Yekini’s case?
But apart from the unfulfilled promise of houses, do you know if Yekini had marital issues that could have unsettled him?
I did not know any. I'm not supposed to interfere in his private matters but to the best of my knowledge, Yekini never complained of anything to his then teammates. He was however very charitable when he was approaching his last days.
Complete Sports was present during his wedding reception in 1994 at D'Rovans Hotel Ibadan and most of his colleagues were noticeably absent except for few. What could have prompted such absence?
Yekini held his wedding soon after the World Cup campaign and some of us had gone for our deserved holidays but most of us were still there. I was there, Ajibade Babalade and Mutiu Adepoju were there.
We still paid him and his wife visits. I don't want to dwell too much on it and for those who did not attend it, they should answer for themselves, let's not read meanings to that. Our relationship with him was okay.
How best can he be immortalized?
The best respect Nigeria will give to Yekini is to take care of his family. Nothing is too much for Yekini because he was a hero and should be given the respect that he deserves. When we are gone, it’s what we did on this earth that we will be best remembered for. Yekini was a legend and it was not good that he was left to live in penury after good service to his fatherland. The NFF have decided to pick either Owerri or Calabar for the Super Eagles World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers in June. Where would you say is the best venue for the games?
I don't have any favourite venue, anywhere the NFF decide to host the game is okay by me. The national team belongs to all Nigerians. But most importantly, what matters is that the security of players, coaches and spectators should be taken into consideration.
The season in Europe is almost finished. How would you rate the performance of Nigerian players?
I want to say that John Obi Mikel has really improved tremendously under Roberto Di Matteo. Under Andre Villas-Boas, he didn't play regularly but now, the current coach trusts him and we're beginning to see the best of Mikel. Joel Obi has also impressed me in Italy. Yakubu has continued to prove that he is prolific in front of goal and Osaze too has been impressive. These players are my pick for the season.
And Mikel has now won his fourth FA Cup medal...
(Cuts in)… I was happy for him because it’s not a mean feat.
Stephen Keshi invited 26 home-based players and five foreign-based for the international friendly against Peru on the 23rd of this month. What is your assessment of the payers that made the cut for the game?
Keshi is in charge of the team, and we should all give him the support he needs. He was a good player when we played for the Super Eagles. Clemence Westerhof was given more than five years to rebuild the national team, so let's give Keshi the same. He believes that five foreign-based players are enough for him for that friendly. Most of the foreign-based players will be coming home from a very tired campaign and he is still going to work with many of them anyway.
Thank you for sparing your time to talk to Complete Sports…
It’s my pleasure speaking with you. I want to use this medium again to ask that God gives Yekini's family the fortitude to bear the loss. I couldn't attend the burial because as a Muslim, he was buried within 24 hours but those of us who played with him will still pay a condolence visit to his family.
No comments:
Post a Comment