By Bello Shehu Shuni
Late Rashidi Yekini.
Source: PM News.
Today is exactly ten years since Nigeria and the World soccer fans lost one of their most dreaded, prolific and electrified African striker, in person of Rasheed Yekini dubbed’Portugal’s setbal star”during his days.
The former Super Eagles vibrant striker was an enigmatic goal- machine with freakish goal scoring records. He was also a two time best African player.
Rashidi Yekini gave up the ghost on the 4th of May 2012.
Late hero Rashidi Yekini was amongst the squad which broke the Jinx of Nations cup victory at Tunisia 1994, which hung on us since 1980 when Christian Chukwu led the then Green Eagles to lift the trophy at the National stadium, Lagos.
He went further to lead Nigeria to qualify for the first FIFA world cup in U S A that same year.
The super Eagles was ranked 5th in the FIFA ranking scale and it is the only team in Africa that goes to the uppermost grade and also It is the only squad that FIFA wrote to Nigerian Football Association (NFA) about the quality of the squad.
Yekini scored the first goal in our first match which was against Bulgaria in Cotton Bowl stadium, Dallas Texas U S A.
He was a patriot to the core.
He converted a free-kick to a blistering shot from over 30 metres away, which caught the goalkeeper, Samba Brice of Congo fruitlessly sprawling on the turf.
Rashidi spent his productive years ensuring Nigeria’s flag flew high and was the much reason why our team was named the best entertaining team in U S A 1994 world cup by FIFA.
Nigerian footballers are expected to borrow a leaf from him.
I am very disgusted by the Minister of Sports and Youths Development to know that #30,000 is given to his mother, every month, as allowance.I urge him to increase the money because Yekini was part of Nigeria’s good resources.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.
Bello Shehu Shuni @
belloshuni79@gmail.com, writes from Sokoto.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
