Keshi to be buried tomorrow as federal government backs out due to lack of funds

FORMER Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi is going to be laid to rest in Edo State tomorrow without any input from the federal government because the ministry of sports said it lacks the funds to help.

 

Keshi, 54, is the only man to have won the African Nations Cup for Nigeria both as a captain and as a coach having skippered the team to success in 1994 and managing it to the trophy in 2013. Fondly known as Big Boss by his colleagues and those within football circles, Keshi was one of Nigeria's early football exports to Europe, playing for Anderlecht in the late 1980s.

 

His funeral rites will start today in Benin City, Edo State tomorrow morning without the involvement of the federal government which is staying out after citing lack of funds. According to the federal government it will now play its own part for the late soccer icon after the Rio 2016 Olympic Games because of a combination of factors.

 

Sports minister Solomon Dalung, said: “We don’t want a haphazard burial for such a great patriot. We will unveil details after the games.”

 

However, the Keshi family is going ahead with the burial plans beginning with a church service on Thursday, July 28 at St’ Paul Catholic Church, Benin City at 9am. After that the late Big Boss as Keshi was fondly called, will be moved to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, where a novelty match will be held in his honour, followed by his body lying in state for his numerous admirers to pay their last respect.

 

The match is being organised by his former team mates led by Austin Eguavoen, who has also captained and coached the national team. After that, the body moves to Asaba, the Delta State capital, where it will again lie in state at the stadium named after him by former Delta State governor  Emmanuel Uduaghan on Nnebisi Road.

 

From Asaba, the body will leave for Illah, his home town. On entering Illah, the body will be received by the Obi of Illah, HRH Obi Gbemudu along with his high chiefs, where Keshi himself was a high chief of the Illah kingdom.

 

After that the body moves to St’ John, The Evangelist Catholic Church for a requiem mass. Next port of call will be his home in Illah, where the body will again lie in state for an hour before internment at the same venue.