FRIDAU PRAYER: Dalung, Pinnick, others extol late Amodu’s virtues

LATE Super Eagles coach, Shuaibu Amodu has been described as a humble, kind hearted person who placed national interest over and above his personal interest.

The Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung made the description at the eight-day fidau prayer in honour of late Amodu held at the deceased’s residence at 41b, Adegoke Street, off Alhaji Masha Street, Surulere, Lagos on Saturday.

The Fidau prayer is a prayer session usually held by the Muslim faithful eight days after the demise of an adherent and Amodu, who was a practising Muslim, was accorded the same ritual on Saturday, Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com reports. 

Dalung led a host of dignitaries including the Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Abu Gumel,  former Nigerian internationals, Joe Erico, Mutiu Adepoju and Ike Shorunmu  in paying tribute to the late coach.

“The sudden demise of coach can least be described as a devastating blow, not only to the football family, but to teaching as a profession. Amodu was a teacher, he taught so many people football. He reconstructed the context of Nigerian football, he added value to it. He did his best. We might not have recognized his achievement adequately flowing from the tribute so many people have given and I also believe same. But I think his disappearance has caused darkness everywhere in the land. And the question is, if today we have crisis in coaching, who again do we invite to intervene.

“Amodu was a very humble person, he was a kind hearted person, he was somebody who placed national interest over and above his personal interest. I met him not too long when he visited me. He only came to my office with his own ideas written as to how he thinks Nigerian football can be moved forward. That was the type of person he was.

“We are all devastated and at this point we cannot ask any question beyond this because we are all mortal, but we pray the God will give us the heart to be able to inspire with his legacy.

NFF President, Amanju Pinnick said the federation will go beyond paying all the entitlements owing the deceased but also ensure that the family left behind is not left to suffer.

"Now is not the time for us to weep, because no matter how we cry that cannot wake the dead, that is for sure. On the part of the Nigeria football federation, we’ve been in touch with the family and we will see what we can do to really immortalize him. 

"We are not saying we are not owing, if we have money we will pay. But I want to assure you we will go beyond the pay, we will look at the family and know what we can do for them because the pain of every father is how his kids will be better in life. I want to make this assurance that the NFF under my leadership by God’s grace will do everything humanly and materially possible to take care of the family to the best appreciable level,” Pinnick said.

NOC President who was represented by Mr. Tony Ubani, the President of Guild of Sports Editors, said Amodu has been at the center of unifying Nigeria through football and that it is high time Nigerian appreciate the efforts of coaches and players while they are still alive.

“Like every other person know, Amodu has been at the center of unifying Nigeria through football and of course he did things that we will continue to talk about. But we pray that God will be with the family and give them the fortitude to bear the loss. 

"On the Guild of Sports Editors and journalist here present, I’m happy to say that all journalist are united knowing that Amodu was a builder, a builder of Nigerian unity. A man who sacrificed everything for the nation. A man who did not count the sins that so many people committed against him all the time that he was denied, a man who sowed but was not allowed to reap it. Almost everytime he qualified Nigeria for the World Cup and at the end, another person will take the team to the world cup. But that did not deter Amodu, that is the type of person he was.

“Let’s try as much as possible to right those things that we didn’t do when Amodu was alive. So many coaches are being owed and even in death coaches are being owed. We must not wait for coaches to die or players to die before we appreciate them. This is the time if we truly love Amodu, let’s begin to respect all the players and coaches who are serving Nigeria.

Joe Erico who assisted late Amodu as Super Eagles' goalkeepers trainer at the Mali 2002 Nations Cup said taking good care of the family left behind would be the best way of immortalizing the late coach.

“I made up my mind in celebrating him because he is worth celebrating. He has left his footprint on the sand of time. He came, he saw, he conquered. That is the way I see it and we should celebrate him.

“I don’t understand what you people mean by immortalizing him. Based on the entire condemnation, the attitude of the entire society about their achievement, how do you want to immortalize such a person. He has family we should take care of and should take care of his family to the highest level, that is the way I look at it. You want to name the National Stadium after him or where? Will that bring money? Come on.”

For Mutiu Adepoju, the federal government and the football federation must ensure they fulfill all the promises made for the family.

“Amodu has done great things for the country and shouldn’t be forgotten. He is somebody that gave all his best for the country, did great things for the country and he deserved to be remembered always. The NFF has promised a lot for his family and I support that because he deserved it. I only pray all those promises are fulfilled,” the Headmaster as fondly called during his playing days, said.

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu said he learnt lots of thing during his time with the late coach as both player and coach.

“He was very calm, very understandable person, he always carry the players along. As a coach now, I learned a lot from him, there are certain things I learn from him which are very important to me now.

“We definitely need to immortalize him. It is very important to the country because with all the rough times he has passed through and for him to survive, you know this job is very hypertensive and for him to survive it during his time of coaching, he needs to be immortalized," he said.