Team Mates Pour Tributes for Oliha
Suddenly the Golden Generation of 1994 is thinning out no thanks to the death of another squad member, Thompson Oliha on Sunday. Already, Nigeria has lost two members of that team, Uche Okafor (in 2011) and Rashidi Yekini (in 2012).
In the third successive year, Nigeria have been thrown into mourning over the death of one of their talented footballers from the Golden Generation.
Oliha also known as ‘The General’ died at the age of 44 in a private hospital in Ilorin, Kwara State on Sunday morning owing to complaints of malaria.
Oliha made 31 appearances for Nigeria at senior level and scored twice. He was also a member of the Super Eagles to the 1994 Fifa World Cup finals in the United States of America.
He made his debut at senior level against Senegal in 1990.
Oliha, who attended Western Boys High School in Benin City, played for Bendel Insurance, Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland), Africa Sports, Maccabi Ironi Ashdod and Antalyaspor before a knee injury ended his career at the age of 27.
Until his death, Oliha worked as a coach with the famous Kwara Football Academy (KFA) in Ilorin for five years and was in charge of the academy’s under-16s.
Former teammates have continued to express shock over the death of Oliha and their pain was captured this way.
I worked with Thompson at the Kwara Football Academy since 2007 when Clemens Westerhof brought us here (to Ilorin) and he was a fantastic person, very professional, straightforward and blunt too. I played alongside him once in the Super Eagles and I know how committed he was to the game. We travelled together to Ibadan recently with our team to play 3SC. I still spoke to him (Saturday) and I’m really sad that we’ve lost a real football man – Samuel Elijah, former under-20 defender.
Another sad day. Ex-international Thompson Oliha my teammate at the 1987 Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Chile is dead. This is so sad. May his soul rest in peace. One death too many in our country. God help us all – Etim Esin, former under-20 and Super Eagles midfielder.
He was a cool and gentle player, and very disciplined and objective. We were teammates in the junior and senior natiional teams. We also played for Iwuanyanwu Nationale. A real professional and business-minded player. He was very ambitious and dedicated to the game. It is just unfortunate that he didn’t make the Maroc 88 team with me as a result of his sickness at the last face of screening to the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. A great loss to football – Peter Nieketen, former under-20 star.
Tommy Young as I called him all our days in the national team and Kwara Football Academy was a legend who will give 100% performance on the pitch. I used to be jealous of his commitment and loyalty to the clubs he played for, and the nation at large. This guy loved the game and was a workaholic. He had tremendous stamina and fighting spirit. Off the pitch, the best I can say based on what I knew of him when we worked in Kwara is he was a simple guy and a guy so contented and conserved. He transferred all of his attributes so quickly into young players at the academy in Kwara. Westerhof and I were in disbelief how he did that. I am so pained over his death. We spoke and chat recently and I told him I will pay him a visit after my exams – Moses Kpakor, ex-Super Eagles midfielder.
We played together for the Under-20 national team in 1987. We won the African title together. He was quiet, but very hard working on the field – Jonathan Akpoborie, former under-20 and Super Eagles striker.
It’s a sad loss. Thompson was a professional all through his life and didn’t shy away from working hard and intelligently too to become a top player – Friday Ekpo, ex-Super Eagles midfielder.
Nigerian soccer legend, Thompson Oliha, was reported dead (Sunday) morning. Nations Cup 1994 winner at age 44. Sad day. Thoughts go out to the family – Sunday Oliseh, ex-Super Eagles captain via Twitter.
I call him ‘The General’ in our playing days because he was simply fantastic and very dedicated, very versatile too. I know we’ll all go some day but I think we lost Oliha too early and I pray God will grant his soul eternal rest and his family the fortitude to bear the loss – Stephen Keshi, Super Eagles head coach.
I met him in Ilorin with Westerhof, then he was helping Westerhof with his academy and he was my teammate at Iwuanyanwu Nationale in the past. On the pitch, he takes his job serious and off the pitch a very lovely fun and easy-going guy. You just have to be close to him before you judge him. I went out with him several times and he is a fun-loving guy. My condolence to his family and may his soul rest in peace – Andrew Uwe, teammate at Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland).
Thompson was one of the best players in our league during his days and well behaved too, and that’s why he excelled at the top level. He was a complete gentleman who was willing to sacrifice for the team. It’s a sad news to hear he is dead. May his soul rest in peace and I pray his family to have the fortitude to bear the loss – Christian Chukwu, former Nigeria captain and head coach.
This is a tragedy of huge proportions. Oliha was one of the best midfielders to have played for Nigeria. His comments and analyses on Nigeria football over the years have been quite informed and useful. The federation and the entire Nigeria football family mourn Oliha’s passing. He was certainly one of the nation’s greats and acquitted himself brilliantly in national colours. Now, we have lost another member of the Golden Generation, following the deaths of Uche Okafor and Rashidi Yekini – Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)
We played together at Iwuanyanwu Nationale, which is now Heartland and he was a very important player for us and also very hardworking too. It’s sad to hear he is dead. We’ve lost a general in Thompson. May his soul rest in peace and God be with his family – Ransome Madu, Heartland assistant coach.Yes of course we will really miss a hardworking and honest person indeed in Thompson. He was a friend and was a very straightforward person even some refer to him as ‘Black Jesus.’ We pray for the repose of his soul – Alloy Chukwuemeka, general manager of ABS.
Oriental War Part III: Heartland Seek Vengeanc
As the second stanza of the Nigerian Professional League Football League (NPFL) matches resume this mid-week, the match of the week no doubt will be the third Oriental derby between Heartland and Enyimba this Wednesday in Owerri.
Cup champions, Heartland will definitely be seeking for revenge against their perennial rivals who piped them by a lone goal in Aba three weeks ago.
Reacting the League’s resumption, former Super Eagles captain and coach Christain Chukwu stated that the encounter between the Naze Millionaires and the Elephants has always been a trilling one any day any were but was quick to suggest that the back-to-back Fed Cup champions will do everything possible to get the three points come Wednesday.
The encounter which will take place at Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri will afford the Ndubuisi Nduka led team an opportunity to resurrect their chase for these seasons
League trophy.
Meanwhile, Heartland players whose sign-on fees were still being owed will at least be very optimistic of receiving something from the authorities as efforts to activate the 60 million cheque approved by the Govt. is in top gear.
It is however strongly believed that if the entitlements of the players are taken care off, it will surely go a long way in propelling them for more success.
The Club recently announced that it may not engage in the mid-season transfer as they have enough in their amour to execute the second stanza. With the likes of Emeka Ogbuh and U-20 International Bright Ejike set to add to their fire power already reach with Happy Akuoka, Isah Akor Umoru and Esom Tochukwu not forgetting newly married Ikechukwu Ibenegbu (Mosquito).
For the Enyimba encounter, Coach Nduka will be hoping for the quick recovery of Happy (Malaria) and Akor (Fever), as Ogbuh (on trials abroad) and Mosquito (on honey moon) will be missing.
But the likes of Osas Okoro, David Tyavkase, Julius Ubido and Drogba’s look alike Esom will be ready to provide adequate cover.
Milo B/ball Tourney: Final Group Games In Lagos
The grand finale of the 15th edition of the All Secondary Schools Basketball Tourney has been scheduled to hold in Lagos from July 1 6 inside the Indoor Sports Hall, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
In the Boy’s category, International School, River State University of Science and Technology, RSUT, Government Secondary School, Minna and Adeokun International School of Otta are in group A.
In group B, are International School Lagos,ISL, Akuoka, Government Boy;s Collage, Funtua and St. Joseph Secondary School, Makardi.
For the Girls’ category, Group A, consists of the defending champions, St. Jude Girls’ Secondary School Amarata, Bayelas, Government Secondary School, Gboko and Western Mixed Secondary School, Asaba.
In Group B, are the maiden champions, Yejide Girls’ Grammar School, Ibadan, Ahmediya Collage, Kano and Government Day Girls’ Secondary School, Gusua.
Speaking at the draw ceremony held at the Nestle headquarters in Ilupej, Lagos, Managing Director of Nestle Nigeria PLC, Mr. Dharnesh Gordhon admonished all the participants to exhibit the spirit of sportsmanship during and after the competition.
He also said Milo will continue to nurture the development of basketball and other sports in Nigeria, adding that they are proud to engage young sporting talents across Nigeria.
According to the category Business Manager of Nestle PLC, Mrs. Doja Ekeruche, 12 teams will compete in the grand finale out of the 5,626 schools that began this year’s edition of the championship that debuted with just over a thousand schools in 1999.
She also disclosed further that the eventual winner of the championship will get a cash prize of 150,000 naira, while the 1st and 2nd runners up will go home with a cash prize of 120,000 and 100,000 naira respectively and a giant trophy.
All the 12 participating schools in the finals will get a cheque of 200,000 naira on their arrival in Lagos.
Imo State representatives Rochas Foundation Secondary School, Owerri failed to make qualify at the Equitorial Conference (Zonal elimination competition) in Enugu last three months.
FIFA GAMES JULY 2
CONFED CUP RESULTS (31/6/13)
3RD PLACE
Uruguay 2(2) pen (3) 2 Italy
FINAL
Brazil 3 — 0 Spain
U-20 World Cup Round of 16
2/7/13
Spain — Mexico
Greece — Uzbekistan
Nigeria — Uruguay
France — Turkey
3/7/13
Portugal — Ghana
Croatia — Chile
Colombia —
