Lagos – Former defunct Green Eagles Assistant Coach, Tunde Disu, has urged the Federal Government to immortalise the late Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi because of his achievements for the country.

Disu said Wednesday in Lagos that Keshi’s achievement was legendary in the annals of Nigerian football.

“He is a legend by all standards. It is so sad to lose Keshi at this moment; someone like him is expected to stay with us longer than this.

“His achievement in football development is commendable. He should be immortalised because he has achieved a lot.

“We worked together in 1983 and 1984 and he was very dutiful and respectful. He was both a dedicated footballer and a coach,’’ he said.

Disu added that football administrators should begin to take the welfare of coaches seriously to allow them to live a better life.

“I think the sports ministry should begin to take the affairs of our coaches seriously; the habit of owing these coaches should be stopped.

“Coaches’ welfare should be of paramount interest to the administrators because they labour to put the players in shape.

“The case whereby coaches are being owed salaries is not good enough for the development of football; they deserve a better life and respect.

“Football is the number one sport in the whole world and we have to respect coaches and pay all their allowances,’’ he said.

Disu also said that Keshi was a cool headed someone who did not bow to the pressures arising from the myriads of challenges he faced with when alive.

“I think the pressure is too much on him managing a national team, and his wife was sick at the same time before she eventually died.

“Keshi is someone we can never forget in this country as a footballer because I knew him during his playing days.

“He was dutiful as a player throughout his playing days and also commands respect. When he became a coach, he continued in the manner.

“I want government to remember him and may he rest in peace,’’ he said.

In the same vein, Amos Adamu, a former Director-General of the Nigeria National Sports Commission, mourning described Keshi as someone who gave so much to football development in Nigeria.

“It is a sad development; I am really in shock with this news, he was our hero that gave so much to his country and it is really
devastating to lose him at this stage.

“As a player, he gave his best to the nation and won many laurels as captain and even made us proud when he won the Africa Nations Cup as a coach in 2013.

“He started very young and was one of those few players that broke into the foreign clubs and paved the way for the others.

“We are really going to miss him because he still had so much to give to the nation with his wealth of experience,’’ Adamu said.

A former Super Eagles goalkeeper and assistant coach, Joe Erico and a close pal of Keshi, described the death as a big blow to Nigeria and Africa.

“Keshi gave so much to Nigeria as a player and captain before going into coaching soon after he retired; I am really devastated by the news and I’m still in disbelief.

“His exploits in African football is unequalled. He will also be remembered for his contributions in handling the national teams of
Togo and Mali.

“It was just last December that we mourned his wife, Kate, and for this to happen is just a big blow to his family and friends at home and abroad,’’ Erico said. (NAN)