THE body of former Super Eagles tactician, Shuaibu Amodu, was yesterday evening committed to earth, amidst crying and wailing, at his residence in Okpella, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.

The body was interred at about 5.15 pm after it was brought out from the inner chambers of his house.

Emotions were let loose, as some family members, neighbours, friends and sypathizers could not hold themselves, but cried and wailed uncontrollably.

It took about five hours after the body arrived from Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin before it was buried, even as sympathizers discussed his death so soon after that of former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi.

Before the interment, the mother of the late Amodu, who had earlier been taken to the palace of the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, Alhaji A.Y.E. Dirisu, was re­turned to the compound after she had been informed of her son’s death.

The observation of the funeral rites and prayer was preceded by a special prayer, led by Ustaz Ahmed Shehu, who prayed for the repose of the soul of the late coach.

Ustaz Shehu discribed the death of Shuaibu Amodu as a great loss to Okpella community, Etsako nation, Edo State and the nation at large.

Earlier at about 5:10p.m. a funeral prayer for the late Shuaibu Amodu was observed, shortly after which he was interred at about 5:15p.m

Among those who attended the funeral ceremony to pay their last respect to the departed coach, were members of the Nigerian football family including the Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mohammed Sanusi.

Also in attendance were chairman of the Edo Football Association, Frank Ilaboya; Robinson Okosun and other football and sports enthusiasts as well as top officials of the Edo State government, including the late Amodu’s cousin and Edo State Commissioner for Information and Ori­entation, Prince Kassim Afegbua; Com­missioner for Environment, Clem Agba, and other notable personalities from the Etsako nation.

The late Shuaibu Amodu is survived by his wife, Kuburat; seven children, mother, brothers and sisters.

His last wish….

Take care of my children!

BY EMMA JEMEGAH

AS if he had premonition of his death, former Super Eagles coach and tech­nical director of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amodu Shuaibu on Thursday, a day after the death of Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, had requested his friends and colleagues to take care of his household should he die before them.

According to former Enyimba International of Aba coach, Kadiri Ikhana, he had a telephone conversa­tion with late Amodu on Thursday while he was at the residence of late Stephen Keshi to console with the family in the company of Sunshine Stars’ coach, Solomon Ogbeide and Amodu jokingly told him that should he die now, those of his friends and colleagues around should ensure his children do not suffer.

“On Thursday, I called him and he told me he was with Ogbeide, that they were going to Keshi’s house to pay condolence on behalf of the Ni­gerian Coaches Association. Midway into our conversation, he told me jokingly that ‘It’s like this death thing is turn by turn’ and requested we take care of his children if it gets to his turn. I never knew it was the last time we will talk,” Ikhana lamented.

Also, a former Super Eagle and Amodu’s player during his time at BCC Lions of Gboko, Moses Kpakor was too shocked on hearing the death of his former coach.

“I can’t believe it’s true. Amodu called me yesterday (Friday) around 10.10pm and the only thing I ob­served was that he was so scared of death. He called me himself, oh how I wish I recorded the conversation. He was scared after Keshi’s death but I tried to calm him down,” Kpakor sobbed.

My father died the day I was to go for my NYSC –Son

THE body of the late Super Eagles coach, Shauibu Amodu arrived his country home, Okiewo Road, Okpella at about 12:45 pm yester­day but was immediately taken to the palace of the Okuokpelagbe of Okpella, HRH Alhaji A. Y Diris u, an Uncle to the departed coach, where he laid in state.

His 26-year old son, Abdul-Aziz Amodu, said the news of the death of his father came to him the day he was to depart for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC.)

The young Amodu who just gradu­ated from Igbinedion University, Okada, said he last spoke with his father on Friday and that he “was not “particularly sick before” his death Saturday morning.

“I just woke up this morning and saw someone rush to the house to say that Shuaibu Amodu was dead. The person said I should tell my uncle. I asked if the person was talk­ing about my father and he said yes; that it happened this morning.

“My last conversation with him was yesterday (Friday) morning. I was supposed to depart (for NYSC) this morning, so I called him over that. He didn’t pick my calls, but he called back. He said he was busy and that I should calm down.

“He said he would be in Okpella today (Saturday). He briefly said something about death because I knew Stephen Keshi and I asked of him.

He said he (Keshi) had not been buried because he was not a Mus­lim and that if he died he would be buried immediately.

“He was not sick and was ad­vanced in age. He had not been fast­ing in the last three years because of his health condition and I don’t know why he decided to fast this year.”