The late Nigerian player, Amusa Shittu

P.M.Sports gathered that the former Nigerian striker, who has been bed-ridden with stroke since February, died around 12:30pm today at the General Hospital in Gbagada, Lagos State, Nigeria. He was aged 75.

A close of friend of the former NEPA-ECN player, veteran sports journalist, Segun Adenuga, confirmed his death this afternoon.
Adenuga said the late Shittu, who was survived by two boys and a girl, battled hard to stay alive from the ailment, “but he gave up in a painful way this afternoon, just 24 hours to the day that Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola plans to fly him to Indian for further treatment.”
According to Adenuga, “We have notified the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Lanre Babalola, to inform him of the latest development. The burial is tentatively fixed for Wednesday, 14 March, 2012. It is painful that Shittu has to leave his little children and rest of us at this period,” Adenuga lamented this afternoon.

Shittu, fondly called ‘The Bulldozer’ was one of the greatest footballers that ever played for Nigeria even under the colonial masters.
Born in Jos, Plateau State in 1937, by a Yoruba parentage, Amusa Shittu began his soccer career in 1958, when he featured for Plateau and Northern Region X1.
The ebony-black striker got his first invitation into the national team, The Red Devils, in 1959, where he showcased his soccer talents alongside great players like Teslim Balogun, Dejo Fayemi, Olu Onagoruwa, Jide Johnson, Monday Sinclair, Cyril Nwajei, Godwin Etemeke, Asuquo Ekpe and Peter Amaechima.
Although he had his first call up to the national team in 1959, Amusa Shittu made his debut on 10 September, 1960, when he played in Nigeria’s 2-2 draw against Ghana in a World Cup qualifier. He scored his first international goal in Nigeria’s 4-1 victory against Port Guinea, now Guinea Bissau in October 1960.
Shittu was also renowned for scoring the only goal in an Olympic qualifier in Nigeria against Sudan on 5 November, 1967 and also scored two goals in the reverse fixture on 17 November in Khartoun to silence the vociferous Sudanese home supporters.
He was a member of the Green Eagles squad that played against the visiting German Olympic team in 1971 at Onikan Stadium, Lagos.
On the local scene, Amusa Shittu was in the team that won the F.A Cup for the Western Region in 1961 and indeed, was the first footballer to have scored an F.A Cup final goal outside the Onikan Stadium in the1961 final between his team and UAC, Broad Street Millionaires, at the Old National Stadium, the site of the present National Stadium.

Shittu’s greatest moment was in 1970 when he propelled ECN (NEPA) to their third F.A Cup glory against his former club, Highlanders of Jos.The game had ended 1-1 apiece before Shittu, a coach/player, came on to rescue his team by scoring the winning goal for ECN.
Shittu, was bed-ridden at the Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos, battling to survive the trauma of stroke that struck him on 12 February, 2012 before he finally gave up today.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/03/13/ex-eagle-shittu-dies-at-75/

May he RIP but who is amusa shittu bulldozer.......

Rest in peace and God give the children the strength to carry on

d_surrogat: May he RIP but who is amusa shittu bulldozer.......

They were in before most of us were even born. Great guys way back then. May God grant him eternal rest.

RIP Sir

may his soul rest in perfect peace

Rest in peace. Amen.

May his soul rest in peace

I've never seen him before anyway may his soul rest in peace.

Nice post thanks for sharing.[img]http://www.lzxin.info/g.php[/img]

Can we get a picture of him please?

The report says the governor planned flying him to India before his death,does it mean none of the hospitals here can "manage" stroke ?

May God comfort and take care of the loved ones he's left behind.

True Hero. R.I.P. SIRE.

May the Lord grant your family the fortitude to bear this painful exit. RIP

Inna lilahi,wa inna ilayi rajiun.

Since february 12, why waited till march 13th before plan to help him? A national Hero for that matter. Also what of many many more heroes like him who have served their fatherland with respect and dignity? what FG and NFA/NFF are doing to help them We have hundreds of past heroes like him around suffering today, some even without job or benefits. While we have thousands of buffoons/baboons in politics and corridors of power stolen millions of $$$s everyday without any single usefulness for the country or community. Enough is enough R.I.P BRO.

Rip sir

Inna lilahi,wa inna ilayi rajiun.

He died as very old man.

Many common people will die as sad man/woman because of the state of the country. They are leaving their people in failed country.

Oh nigeria!!! a countryless country.

RIP

RIP

RIP.

R>I>P

RIP RIP .

RIP!

[img]http://s01.flagcounter.com/count/H9Y2/bg=FFFFFF/txt=FFFFFF/border=FFFFFF/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=0/.png[/img][img]http://2.s01.flagcounter.com/count/H9Y2/bg=FFFFFF/txt=FFFFFF/border=FFFFFF/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=0/.png[/img][img]http://s06.flagcounter.com/count/pII1/bg=FFFFFF/txt=FFFFFF/border=FFFFFF/columns=1/maxflags=1/viewers=3/labels=0/.png[/img]

RIP

RIP, Baba Dada

ifyalways: Can we get a picture of him please?

The report says the governor planned flying him to India before his death,does it mean none of the hospitals here can "manage" stroke ?

May God comfort and take care of the loved ones he's left behind.

It is a shame that his stroke could not be properly managed in our so - called medical establishments. He was probably bed - ridden at home. The place for a recent stroke patient, is in a hospital, with round the clock medical support. But our pococurante leaders are so entwined in their own ways.
May his soul rest in peace.

A man that scored 2 away-goals for my country on the day that I was born is indeed my hero.
RIP Baba Amusa Shittu

Rest in Peace hommes. . . .

I wasnt even born as at when you wore your first Jersey for Nigeria!!

I hope the afterlife treats you well. . .

Sail on!

RIP