Remembering Rasheed Yekini

Today is exactly 10 years since Nigeria and the world soccer fans lost one of their most dreaded, prolific and electrified African striker, Rasheed Yekini, dubbed “Portugal’s Setubal star” during his heyday.

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. He died on May 4, 2012.

Late hero Rasheed 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 fifth in the FIFA ranking after the tournament due to their superlative performance. It was the only team in Africa that went that far and the only squad that

FIFA wrote to Nigeria’s football body, 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, USA. He converted a free-kick to a blistering shot from over 30 metres away, which caught the goalkeeper fruitlessly sprawling on the turf.

Rasheed spent his productive years ensuring Nigeria’s flag flew high and was the reason why our team was named the best entertaining team in USA 1994 World Cup by FIFA. He was a patriot to the core.

Nigerian footballers should borrow a leaf from him.

It is unfortunate that the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development still pays only N30,000 to his mother every month as allowance. I urge the minister to increase the amount because Yekini contributed immensely to Nigeria’s sports development.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.

Bello Shehu Shuni wrote via belloshuni79. gmail.com