Nigerian Football
Nigerian footballer drowns in Russia’s neighbour, Belarus
BBC has reported that Belarusian club FC Vitebsk said on Monday that Nigerian footballer Kelvin Odenigbo drowned over the weekend in a tragic accident.Belarus is a country bounded to the east by Russia.
The body of 20-year-old Odenigbo, who sealed a move to the Belarusian Premier League side in March, was found was found on Saturday in the Beloye Lake, a tourist destination in the Vitebsk region.
Club doctors said an autopsy found “no violent marks on the body and there are no traces of alcohol in Kelvin’s blood. It was a drowning accident that shocked us all.”
His brother Ebuka, who plays for Kano Pillars in the Nigerian top flight, said Kelvin’s death had come as a huge shock to him because Kelvin could not swim and usually avoided water.
“This is a profound shock as he wouldn’t go near a swimming pool,” Ebuka told BBC Sport Africa.
“I said this because he can’t swim at all. He doesn’t like water so I was shocked when they said he was found dead in a lake.”
While Ebuka has become a sensation in the domestic scene since switching from the University League to the Nigerian Premier League in 2019, Kelvin was only just settling down to life in Belarus.
Snapped up from Abuja-based NAF Rockets, the forward was a late substitute on 28 May as Vitebsk beat visiting FK Smorgon 5-0 in the league.
After four appearances, all as a substitute, so much was expected of Kelvin in the Eastern European nation so his passing came as a major shock to his family and the community in Makurdi.
“I got the shocking news shortly before the kick off of our league match against Enyimba on Sunday,” added Ebuka.
“We had finished the pre-match warm-up and was about going on the pitch to play the match when I heard about it. I told the coach to excuse me from the game because I wasn’t myself.
“It’s been very difficult, the news has come as a shock and I have been given permission by the club [Kano Pillars] to be with my parents.
“I’m on my way to our base in Makurdi because my Mum and Dad are in disbelief. I also don’t have the right words to say to them right now.
“The club has been in touch about his death and requested for a talk but I cannot say anything until the family are bale to come together for a meeting.”
Following the death of their Nigerian player, there were calls for Vitebsk fans to pay tribute to him at the club facilities in Belarus.
Remo Stars on Saturday made it two straight wins in the Nigeria Premier League after labouring to a 1-0 defeat of Sunshine Stars of Akure to follow-up their last weekend 2-0 away win over Abia Warriors.
On Saturday, under eight minutes they shot ahead through Shuaibu Ibrahim. That was where the story ended as Sunshine Stars came up strongly and almost stalemated scores.
The win, though narrow, is enough to temporarily take Remo Stars to the top of the log after two games.
They are followed by Rivers United who beat Heartland 3-1. It is the second consecutive 3-1 loss that Heartland are getting in the two-week old season.
The situation could change on Sunday when other matches are played.
On the card are: Akwa United hosting Abia Warriors while Kano Pillars will be away to Bayelsa United.
Katsina United host Bendel Insurance and Niger Tornadoes will be home to Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars will host Plateau United.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, who was in Arnhem, Netherlands.
Former Nigeria manager, Clemens Westerhof has recommended one of his former players, Samson Siasia as the substantial coach for the Super Eagles.
Siasia was one of his players of the famed golden generation of the Super Eagles.
“I called him last month to greet him for his birthday and also to celebrate with him for the end of his five-year ban”, Westerhof told Sports Village Square at his house in Arnhem in the Netherlands.
According to him, Siasia is just like Keshi and that he has the capacity to turn the Super Eagles around for the better. Westerhof, the author of the famed ‘Golden Generation’ of the Super Eagles made his suggestion shortly after Germany’s Bruce Labbadia turned down the Nigerian job offer.
Westerhof remarked that he was surprised about the choice of Labbadia in the first instance and that the now Mali coach, Tom Saintfiet who is his friend could have been a better choice.
Saintfiet, a Belgian, was speculated among the coaches initially short-listed for the Super Eagles’ job. But Westerhof, before the naming of Austin Eguavoen, another member of his famous 1994 squad, strongly back Siasia for the job.
He remarked that he was in touch with the former striker as well as Austin Okocha whom he met with in London recently.
To Westerhof, Siasia has the same quality like Stephen Keshi to handle the Super Eagles. “He has done it before and I think he can still do it.”
The balls hit the nets 17 times this Sunday as the Nigeria Premier League Season 2024/25 burst into life this Sunday.
The first of the goals was from Plateau United’s Olawale Doyeni who converted a 24th minute penalty kick against Katsina United in an eventual 1-0 home win.
Another star-man of the the day is Enyimba’s Clinton Jephta who has become the season’s first hat-trickster. His three goals in the 65th , 70th and 73rd minutes sank heartland 3-1 in their home match.
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