President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, Uche Okechukwu, Peter Rufai, Austin Equavoen, Mutiu Adepoju and Victor Ikpeba were among notable football administrators and legends who paid their last respect to the body of Late icon, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi at the Samuel Ogbemudia in Benin City, Edo state on Thursday.
The ex-Super Eagles stars played a novelty match in honour of their late teammate. whose body was laid at the stadium.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole was represented by the member representing Etsako Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Philip Shuaibu.
Before the body of the late Coach was laid at the Stadium, a requiem Mass was held at the St Paul’s Catholic Church Benin City.
Friends and family members wept profusely when the body was laid at the stadium.
Some of the players who eulogised the late coach and player, appealed to management of the country’s football to set aside personal interest for the growth of the game.
Ikpeba who particularly noted that Keshi sacrificed a lot for the growth of football in Nigeria, lamented that personal interest was the major factor militating against the progress of the nation’s football.
“Keshi had done a lot for the progress and the level the game is in Nigeria today. He made a great impact in Nigeria football and promoted the sport to its highest level in the country. The void left by Keshi will be difficult to fill and I appeal to those managing football in Nigeria to set aside personal interest for the game to grow,” Ikpeba stated.
On his part, Uche Okechukwu who said he was still in shock with the demise of Keshi, said he was not happy with developments in the game in Nigeria.
He called for concerted effort to be made so as to return the country to its lost glory in the game.
Similarly, Rufai described Keshi as a disciplinarian who will be missed by sport loving fans.
Keshi died in Benin on June 8. The remains of the fallen star will be interred in Ilah, his home town on Friday.
