Best Ogedegbe, Nigerian former goalie dies at 55

EX-INTERNATIONAL, Best Ogedegbe is dead. He was aged 55. Ogedegbe was the fourth member of the Green Eagles 1980 Nations Cup-winning squad the nation had lost, after the late Muda Lawal, Tunde Bamidele and Alloysius Atuegbu. He died on Monday at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, at 7.50pm, according to the Head of the Public Relations Unit of the hospital, Mr. Toye Akinrinola.

Ogedegbe, a member of the 1976 IICC Shooting Stars' African Club Winners Cup-winning squad, had underwent brain surgery and was moved to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) last Wednesday before he gave up the ghost.

Akinrinlola said the deceased once received treatment in a private hospital, where his eyes were operated upon, adding that, “but when he could not control it any longer, he came to the UCH where diagnosis showed that he had a brain tumour."

He said though the hospital tried its best to save him but he later died, adding that when he came to the hospital, the Chief Medical Director, Professor Abiodun Ilesanmi personally took it upon himself. He said the wife of the deceased who was at the hospital could testify to the fact that the hospital really tried to save the life of her husband.

Speaking on the demise, president of the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF), Harrison Jalla described Ogedegbe's death as a big loss to Nigerian football. "I had planned to visit him in the hospital before I got the news this morning that he is dead which came to me as a shock. It's a big loss to Nigerian football."

Ex-international, Dimeji Lawal also spoke with Tribunesports on the death of Ogedegbe, saying, "he was my coach in 3SC during the era of Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, and he was quite a wonderful person to work with.

Meanwhile, Osun State governor,Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has described the death of Ogedegbe as painful and a setback to football in the country. Prince Oyinlola,in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on media and Chief Press Secretary, Mr Lasisi Olagunju, recalled the brilliant performances of Best Ogedengbe in the 1970s which also contributed to the lifting of the African Cup of Nations by the Nigeria’s Green Eagles in 1980.

Meanwhile, Oyo State Commissioner for Sports, Hon Joe Ayoola Makanjuola has commiserated with the family of the late soccer hero as well as the football community on the incident, which he described as a rude shock to him and governor Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala.

Former governor of Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo also speaking described Ogedegbe as " a naturally good goalkeeper."DAUGHTER of the late ex-international, Miss Yejide Ogedegbe has revealed that her dad never wanted to go for the brain surgery which terminated his life on Monday at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

Yejide in a chat with Tribunesports disclosed further that her dad acted on the advice of a medical doctor to remove the growing tumour in his brain even though the defect did not affect him physically. "He consulted an opthalmologist who advised him to go for brain surgery as the tumour would grow if not checked in time. In fact, it took my dad time before he agreed to go for the surgery.

"He was not sick before he went for the surgery. He was a rare man with a unique and admirable character, he was forthright to a fault and he related well with everybody," said Yejide. Meanwhile, Oyo State Commissioner for Sports, Hon Joe Ayoola Makanjuola has commiserated with the family of the late soccer hero as well as the football community on the incident, which he described as a rude shock to him and governor Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala.

Former governor of Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo also speaking described Ogedegbe as " a naturally good goalkeeper."

Culled from Nigerian Tribune