Amodu Shuaibu

Coach Shuaibu Amodu will be buried later today at his home town, Okpella, Edo State. The late four time Super Eagles coach is a Muslim and must be buried few hours after his death as traditions of the religion demanded.

The remains of the four time coach of Nigeria national team was being transported to his home town for burial as at the time of writing this story.

It was also gathered that a delegation of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF is on its way to Okpella to witness the burial of the football manager who died early Saturday morning after complaining of chest pains the previous evening.

Apart from his four time stints as manager of Super Eagles, Amodu who was the technical director of the NFF before his death also led many Nigerian club sides to national and continental honours.

Some of the clubs managed by the late Coach included the defunct BCC Lions of Gboko,  El-Kanemi Warriors and Ibadan based Shooting Stars. Outside the country, he also managed Orlando Pirates of South Africa.

It is double tragedy – Izilen

Meanwhile, former coach of the national female team, Godwin Izilien, has described the death of  Amodu as a double tragedy.

Izilien who spoke to journalists at Stella Obasanjo hospital this morning, said: “If you see me shedding tears, it is not because Shaibu Amodu is dead. I was trying to reach him several times yesterday but his line was not available, which was unusual. But I eventually got him in the evening and he told me he was at the police station, that he was some of his relations to bail one of their family members.

“I eventually went to meet him at the police station where I told him I’ve brought the driver he requested and he said we should meet by 10 this morning to interview him. And the is the meeting,” he said, and burst into tears.

He described the death of Amodu, just four days after the death of Stephen Keshi, as a double tragedy for the nation.

The author, Jethro Ibileke, can be reached at [email protected]