SPORT Shorunmu, Dosu call for prayers, support for Ikeme

A former Super Eagles goalkeeper, on Sunday in Lagos said the ill health of the current Super Eagles number one goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, was a sad development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Wolverhampton Wanderers FC of England goalkeeper was diagnosed with acute Leukaemia by his club during a pre-season routine health check.

Leukaemia is a malignant progressive disease in which the bone marrow and other blood-forming organs produce increased numbers of immature or abnormal leucocytes.

These suppress the production of normal blood cells, leading to anaemia and other symptoms.

Dosu, whose football career was cut short after a near-fatal motor accident in Lagos in 1997, added that in spite of the setback it would not be difficult to find a replacement for Ikeme.

“It’s so unfortunate that he is going through this now, this is a great guy, he has done well since his invitation to the national team, and even with his club.

“We need to show him support and importantly pray for him, the need for these two cannot be overemphasised at this point in time.

“We have other fantastic goalkeepers, the likes of Daniel Akpeyi and Dele Alampasu and even in our league, no matter what happened to Akpeyi against South Africa, he is still one of the best,’’ he said.

In the same vein, Ike Shorunmu a former Super Eagles goalkeeper and later goalkeepers’ trainer said that he could imagine what was going through Ikeme’s mind since the news broke out.