UNHERALDED IN LIFE, CELEBRATED IN DEATH: THE SORRY AND SAD TALE OF STEPHEN KESHI
It came as a rude shock to all football lovers in the early hours of June 8, 2016 as news filtered through that Nigeran footballing legend, Stephen Keshi had succumbed to the cruel hands of death aged just 54. This phenomenon called death is truly inevitable to any person, yet the manner in which this unwelcome visitor comes calling at times truly leaves a lot to be desired. A man in his managerial career prime has been taken prematurely, and we are no wiser for it. The question is why does bad things happen to good people?. The Big Boss as he was fondly referred to was loved by mostly every stakeholder in the football scene in Nigeria, and always struck a pose of a man who knew his onions in the game, and now we won't hear or see him anymore.

For a man who had to make his name from the very scratch, it has been a fulfilling life for the Edo indigene tactician, who grew from the streets with lofty ambitions of reaching the very top of the footballing world. He played for clubs such as Club Brugge, Anderlecht, Satde d'Abidjan, Sacramento Scorpions and starred for Nigeria at its maiden World cup appearance at USA '94, which announced the country as an emerging superpower in the beautiful game. Keshi the player was a calming influence, with a leadership style that was the exception rather than the norm, when in his era, leaders had to be vocal. Yet, he won over his teammates with his unassuming, lead-by-example which led to success for the national team.

Yet, behind this man is a story of one who had to struggle before he could be celebrated, the typical story to glory example. He debuted for the Green Eagles in 1981 as a prodiguous 20 year old, at a time the national team was on the wane steadily, playing alongside the likes of Best Ogedengbe, Haruna Ilerika, Muda Lawal and the exceptional Segun 'The Mathematical' Odegbami. Playing alongside these established players didn't seem to faze Keshi, as he took the pressure of proving himself to another height. Silver medals at Maroc '88 and Algiers '90 proved hard to swallow, yet when Clemens Westerhof got the majority of the team playing in his way, the team won the '94 edition of the Nations Cup, with Keshi now a veteran of the team, a fitting tribute to one who had dedicated his life to the service of his nation.

He took to coaching and qualified Togo for the 2006 World Cup, yet was sacked in the build up to the mundial in Germany, as he was deemed inexperienced for the job. He took over the Nigerian team in 2011 after a disastrous 2012 Nations Cup qualifying campaign under Samson Siasia, and the rest is history. A Nations Cup win, Confederations Cup appearance and a World Cup second round finish was enough to guarantee him as the most successful Nigerian coach of all time, yet he was booted out by the Nigerian Football Federation in ominous fashion in 2015 after his contract ws not renewed, after series of run-ins with the football authorities.

Death has robbed us of a great man, yet the pain in our hearts is immense as there is a feeling of 'what could have been' as he could have achieved much more in his journey on earth. A famous quote says, "Its not how long you live, but the people you have been able to impact that matters". This man surely did have an impact on this earth and as the plaudits and tributes continue to pour in, we must learn how to appreciate national heroes while they are yet alive as no one knows tomorrow.


Adios, Keshi and may we meet at the river as that beautiful Christian hymn says.

Written by: Kadiri Ademola A.
kadiriademola@gmail.com