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The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, on Thursday paid tribute to the late ex-Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, describing him as a super hero.
“I have always described him as a super hero because he was a super hero. He did not do things that were regular he did things that were extraordinary,” Pinnick said at the funeral mass for Keshi.
Pinnick, who led an NFF delegation to the funeral mass, which was held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Benin, said the federation would honour the late icon.
“That (honour) is definitely going to be done,” Pinnick he said.
Keshi died on June 8 in Benin at the age of 54, after a 44-month spell as coach of the Super Eagles.
He was one of the only two players to have won the African Cup of Nations both as player and as coach in 1994 and 2013.
One of the in-laws of the late coach, Richard Aburimen, said he would remain in the hearts of his loved ones.
Aburimen said, “Stephen Okechukwu Keshi was, quintessentially a good man, a man of peace. He was a giver; he never held back and that why he was as big as he was.”
Also present was the Chairman of the Edo State Football Association, Frank Ilaboya, and former team mates of the late football strategist, including Austin Eguavoen.
The officiating priest, Very Rev. Fr. Richard Ofere, said that Keshi lived an exemplary live as a member of the parish, where he contributed selflessly to the development of football.
While stressing the need to believe in the resurrection, the priest noted that death was not the end of the life of a true Christian.
Ofere added that righteousness and true worship of God were prerequisites for Christians who desire to see God.
After the funeral mass, the body of the former Super Eagles captain was later moved to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium for a novelty match between ex-internationals and all stars.
Afterwards, there would be a lying-in-state and tributes at the indoor hall of the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State.Punch
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