TEARS FOR HALF-BLIND FEMI OPABUNMI
June 29, 2015
Written by GODWIN ENAKHENA

Femi Opabunmi started his football career in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, where he was a household name until he was picked by the late coach Musa Abdullahi alongside 22 others to fly Nigeria’s flag at the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago.
He became a national hero few months later because of his dazzling runs on the flanks for the Golden Eaglets even though Nigeria lost 0-3 to France in the finals of the event. Fans back home will remember him for the hat-trick against Australia. He won the Silver Shoe as the second highest goal scorer and the bronze ball as the tournaments’ third best player.

A star was born. Yes, it was no fallacy as he was promoted to the senior national team, the Super Eagles a few months down the road.
Opabunmi needed no godfather to join the big boys in the national team because the Super Eagles’ caretaker coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, who was drafted to the team after the sack of Amodu Shaibu and his assistants, had seen enough of him during the cadet World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Moddakeke High Chief wasted no time in putting a call through to Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), his first club in the Nigerian professional league. Pronto, Opabunmi was on the plane to Asia, host of the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by Korea and Japan. He made his debut for Nigeria against the Three Lions of England in a game that ended goalless. He made history as the third youngest player at the age of 17.

From Asia, Opabunmi didn’t return to the ancient city of Ibadan, as he finalised his move which started at the FIFA Under -17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago to Swiss top division side, Grasshoppers. He left for Isreal after three seasons in Switzerland. Next stop was Hapoel Be’er Sheva of Israel, where he spent a season and left for French second division side, Niort.
Opabunmi’s grace to grass story began after two seasons in Niort, precisely one morning in 2006 in training when he discovered that his vision was blurred.

He was my guest on SportSplash on Lagos Television and Top Sports on Top Radio 90.9fm on Friday, June 26, 2015. He tells his story:
“In December 2006, I was training one day when, suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my eyes. I could not see the ball again.
“My vision became blurred and I decided to see an optician. The woman told me that in a few days, I could be blind if I did not have surgery, I went for it and the surgeon said it was a success.
“The bill was so much that I was forced to contact a few of my friends. My team mates in the Super Eagles like Osaze Odemwingie and Seyi Olofinjana responded by sending some money to me. Others did not even reply my mails or called to know how I was feeling.
“I was expecting to see again but there was no improvement. I visited the doctor and other hospitals in Paris without a solution. They told me that my problem was a complex case that I was too young for such a painful experience”.

Meanwhile, news of the young man’s plight had gotten to his mother who advised him to come back to Nigeria to seek local remedy. Left with no other choice, he returned home.
“When I came back to Nigeria, I visited churches, mosques, alfas, native herbal homes and many more. At the end of the day, I was left flat broke.
“The places I visited included Ojulowo Eye Clinic in Ibadan, but I had no money to pay the bill. When chief Adegboye Onigbinde, my former coach in the Super Eagles heard about my return to Nigeria, he called and assisted me by paying the bill at Ojulowo, but the problem was only solved halfway”.
With just one eye working at 60% and the other completely blind, Opabunmi says he is confident of seeing with both eyes again as he waits for the mercy of God for divine healing.

For a man who says he has gone through hell and back, he definitely has his wife to thank for standing by him all through his travails.
“My wife, Ayoola Bukola is God-sent. But for her, I would have committed suicide long ago, because I actually felt like killing myself several times but she would say to me ‘relax, God is alive’. She is my strength. You won’t believe that people laugh at us when we are walking along the road and it gets to her sometimes. It’s been very tough, my brother. There are days we don’t have food to eat. My wife is a teacher and they’ve not been paid for over four months”.

Did he receive any help from his former club, 3SC?
He insists that there’s too much politics in his former club and that explains why he has stayed away. Although he feels he doesn’t need to go to them before help should come his way.
“I played for 3SC before leaving Nigeria. They know my condition and how bad it is. There’s no football person in Ibadan who is not aware of my plight”.

However, he was quick to thank the former Oyo State sports commissioner, Dapo Lam-Adesina, who assisted him financially at some point.
The 30-year-old is also thankful to Alesund FK of Norway star, Lateef Akeem, for helping out with the kids’ school fees.
“My brother, I’ve gone through a lot. My three kids, two boys and a girl, one in secondary school, were driven out of school because I couldn’t pay their fees. They stayed at home for weeks but miraculously, I received a surprise call from Lateef Akeem who plays in Norway, he asked for my account details and sent me money to settle their fees. Now, they’re back in school. I don’t know him and I’ve never met him. I’m grateful to him.

“I also can’t forget Osaze Odemwingie. He was there for me several times, unfortunately I’ve lost contact with him because my phone went bad.
“I’ve also reached out to Vincent Enyeama who we were at the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan together but he never replied my calls and mails after I told him I needed his financial assistance”.
An obviously bitter Opabunmi has vowed to stop any of his children, who takes to football as a career, from representing Nigeria.
“I am not happy that I have been abandoned by my country. It’s a bad story. Sometimes I don’t want to watch Nigerian football because any day I do so, I cry.

“I don’t know if the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will help me now. I need their assistance in any capacity, even as a curator, I don’t mind. I need to work and feed my family.
“I believe in God. If he says they (NFF) will do something for me, they will, and if they can’t, there’s nothing we can do. I want to go to the National Institute for Sports (NIS) to be trained as a coach if I have money. That’s my dream and target right now.”
Opabunmi further revealed another interesting side to his life when he was asked about his love relationship with a young girl whom he promised to marry.
It was rumoured that the said girl had placed a curse on the former Nigeria international who jilted her.

“It’s not true that I was cursed by any girl. Yes, I did promise a girl from Ibadan that I would marry her but it didn’t work out. Not all relationships end in marriage no matter the promises made by both parties. I’m not perfect because I’m a human being,” Opabunmi explained.

•Here is his account details: First bank Account No: 3058788201 Name: Opabunmi Femi.

SOURCE

cc lalasticlala
Ishilove

Issorait.... God will surely come to his rescue

Introvert, you are late.

I was moved when I watched the interview. Very promising young talent way back.

Very sad! So unfortunate he had to end his blossoming career in such a manner. He was such a delight to watch at the under 17 World cup in Trinidad and Tobago.

Although, i hardly believe in all these African diabolical and spiritual ways, but reading this guy's story is making me to have a rethink. There is more to this that meet the eyes (no pun intended!) God will see you through bro. This Life na wa O!!

It's sad that once promising career ended like that. He used to show matches for us at Sanyo area in Ibadan,but he closed it later. He is left with a bungalow built during his short career where he is living now. For some of us that stays in same area,we cannot but pity his condition.

PRODUTIM1:
It's sad that once promising career ended like that. He used to show matches for us at Sanyo area in Ibadan,but he closed it later. He is left with a bungalow built during his short career where he is living now. For some of us that stays in same area,we cannot but pity his condition.

Do you mean viewing center?

I saw this guy play in Trinidad and Tobago 2001 alongside Segun Abiodun, Richard Eyimofe, Akpan Bassey, Temile Omonigho and co. A highly talented lad that was on a fast track to stardom. I even nicknamed one of my friends(Opatola) after him (Opabunmi). It is a pity that he is in such a state.
Is there no association for ex-footballers in Nigeria?

NIGERIANS THIS YOUNG MAN NEEDS HELP FAST!!!!!

Icon4s:
I saw this guy play in Trinidad and Tobago 2001 alongside Segun Abiodun, Richard Eyimofe, Akpan Bassey, Temile Omonigho and co. A highly talented lad that was on a fast track to stardom. I even nicknamed one of my friends(Opatola) after him (Opabunmi). It is a pity that he is in such a state.
Is there no association for ex-footballers in Nigeria?

NIGERIANS THIS YOUNG MAN NEEDS HELP FAST!!!!!

In fact, there are two associations like that, they are still trying to find their feet.

1. Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria (APFN)

2. National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF)

hmmmmmm