•Blames govt for Yekini’s demise

By KATE OBODO
Former Super Eagles coach, Chief Adeboye Onigbinde has lamented the neglect and poor treatment of national heroes who have served their fatherland by the various levels of governments in the country.

The Modakeke High Chief was speaking about the late Rashidi Yekini who, he said, was completely abandoned to die even  as he blamed government and sports administrators for their non-challant attitude towards the late football star.

Rashidi Yekini

Speaking with Saturday Vanguard Sports, Chief Onigbinde said the late Yekini was not only a national property but  also a  hard working fellow  who  was  rubbished and neglected, having assisted the country in football competitions.

“I have said this over and over again that we don’t have heroes in this country. It is a common knowledge that a mad man does not believe he is mad, in fact he would think that those saying he is insane are the ones mad. The question is, don’t we have experts and professionals who could have handled his case. And what did they do all these while,” he asked.

Continuing he said, “One thing we forget to understand is that when a man or a woman rises to the top, especially if serving the country, he or she is no longer the proprety of his family. But do we care? It was his family members who were taking care of him.

Couldn’t he (late Yekini) be better  handled  by the  government rather than his family or private individuals?

“Remember the topmost Argentina football star,  Diego Maradona? While he was  in his tough times, his country stood completely by him. Even after his trying moments, they got him engaged as the head coach of his country before he was later sacked. Here in Nigeria, the reverse is the case. We don’t celebrate our heroes rather we prefer to punish them to death.

“I was also surprised at the manner in which he was bundled out of house by his family. Is that the way a hero should have been treated? Is this not sad? Do we even have heroes in this country?

In 1984, I won silver for this country but nobody even recognized me neither did they appreciate the laurel brought to the country. Instead, the only way  they could pay me  was my removal from the team . Also in 1992 and 1993, the then minister of sports wrote me a letter that I have been nominated for a national award but up till now, I have not had that award.

There are still some heroes that Nigeria is still  wasting who have not been mentioned. Why use these players, athletes when they cannot benefit from their fatherland”.