[b]Stationery Stores FC Supporters pay Tribute to Stephen Okechukwu Keshi

Born STEPHEN OKECHUKWU KESHI around Costain area of Lagos Mainland in 1962, he attended St Paul's Primary School, Ebute-Metta in Lagos, where his football talent began to show, alongside playing street football. He was captain of the school team. He got admitted into Lagos Secondary Commercial Academy Onike-Yaba in the 1975/76 Academic Year and became an instant football star even as a then Form 1 student, which attracted St. Finbarr's College not far off in Akoka. He then transferred to St. Finbarr's College Akoka the following year in Form 2 to meet a cluster of emerging stars like himself on ground in the school team, amongst whom were Henry Nwosu MON (1yr ahead of him), Franklin Howard and Edema Benson. The bonding was magical like the football they played together. Together they won the Lagos State Principals Cup in 1979 under the erudite Coach Malagu, as the legendary Coach Kashimawo Laloko had left with equally legendary Late Anthony Omoera - the principal a year earlier, to Maryland Comprehensive High School en route famous rival St. Gregory's College, Obalende-Ikoyi. He was a captain at St Finbarr's College years later.

Stephen Keshi was a great central defender with aerial command, coordinating attribute and attacking flair, right from the secondary school days. In essence, he exhibited the libero role he was renowned for, in the National Team. A scoring libero, he was.

The all-conquering newly formed New Nigerian Bank FC (NNB) engaged Henry Nwosu in 1980 from the African Continental Bank FC (ACB) in 1980 alongside many other great stars and as soon as he finished his School Certificate exams, Stephen Keshi joined Henry Nwosu his bosom friend and brother at NNB in 1981, where together they won several diadems including the WAFU Cup for keeps. He also became captain at NNB FC. He subsequently left for Asec Mimosa of then Ivory Coast in protest over the year-long ban of NNB by the then NFA (for not releasing its players invited then into the national team). It was from Cote d’Ivoire that he left for Anderlecht FC of Belgium in Europe, opening the doors to Europe for many Nigerian local players subsequently. He was a Czar to many African stars in Belgium nay Europe. One retired African football great who will never forget Stephen Keshi, amongst a legion, is Ghanaian legend Odartey Lamptey, whom Keshi literarily 'shipped' to Anderlecht FC Belgium, where Odartey also became a great player. He remains ever grateful and told us he has lost his football father.

Unknown to many, Keshi would have been a member of the 1980 Nations Cup winning team, as the late Otto Gloria invited him in 1979 alongside his friend Henry Nwosu but he missed the final squad very narrowly

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still can't believe you're dead.how I love this man!!