Nigerian Football
Breaking! Tesilimi ‘Thunder’ Balogun’s first son, Tunde dies
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
As the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the death of football legend, Tesilimi ‘Thunder’ Balogun gathers momentum, his first son, Tunde Balogun has died. He was the eldest of the eight children – seven male and a female – of the late legend.
According to Kayode Balogun, the third child of the late legend, Tunde, aged 67 died in Surulere, Lagos.
Born on 16 February 1955, he was 17 years old when Thunder Balogun died in 1972. Having the same height of 6ft 2in like his father, he was anticipated to be the one to step into the father’s lager-than-life shoes.
Tunde Balogun was called up into the Nigeria Academicals’ team that played Ghana in 1972 in what used to be an annual contest for the Nigerpool Cup.
He was also a star of the intermediate team of the then Western State during the 1973 National Sports Festival in Lagos. The team got to the semi-finals before a late goal by Thompson Usiyan of the Midwest State edged Western State out from getting to the final.
That was a year after the passing on of Tesilimi Balogun. Tunde Balogun was anticipated to star for Nigeria as had done his father as he was just a split image of the legend and had the same height. He made waves in school football and eventually earned scholarship to study Geology at the prestigious Howard University in the US.
On his return, he played for Water Corporation FC, Ibadan, a club that his father assisted in forming in 1967.
Noted for a unique body swerving skills, characteristics of his father, Thunder, he often left defenders stranded.
A typical example was a National League match involving Water Corporation and Enugu Rangers at the Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, he was a terror in the Rangers defence, but for the extra agility of goalkeeeper Emmanuel Okala.
Rangers eventually won the match, 1-0, courtesy of a late strike by Ernest Ufele.
Tunde Balogun, before travelling to the US, had his secondary school education at Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo and finished in 1972, the year his father passed away.
For his Advance Level certificate. He started at Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro but finished at Government College, Ibadan in 1974.
Apart from soccer he was a great long distance racer, particularly in 400 metres where he also excelled
He thereafter travelled to the United States for his tertiary studies, to improve his academic qualification in 1974.
Tunde Teslim-Balogun was well known to be a personality of impeccable character with high sense of humility and generosity.
Tunde Teslim-Balogun was born in Ibadan but hailed from Lagos Island in Lagos on the 16th of February, 1955.
He was born at the time his father- Teslim Thunder- Balogun was a soccer star reigning across Nigeria , West Africa and internationally.
He was nicknamed ‘Ara’, meaning ‘thunder’ to describe his thunderous kicks at goal like his father, in that school.
His presence as a student in Olivet Heights in Oyo boosted the school’s performance in the Principals’ Cup Football Competition among secondary schools in Western State then.
His soccer wizardry was overwhelming across the whole state then, just like his father. It was a plus to Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro in Egbado area of Western State then, when he gained admission there for his HSC studies in 1972.
The climax at that prestigious school Soccer days was his superlative performance that propelled Government College Ibadan to the final of the Western State Principals’ Cup Football Competition played at Liberty Stadium in Ibadan in 1973.
He left behind soccer talented brothers and sister; namely Tokunbo, Kayode, Olamide, Ajibola, Iyabode, Bioye, and Wole.
According to family sources, the 40 day Fidau will hold just days before the celebration of the 50th anniversary of passing on of Tesilimi Balogun, after whom the Teslim Balogun Stadium is named.
Nigerian Football
Remo Stars win Star War against Sunshine Stars to take temporary NPFL lead
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.
Nigerian Football
Westerhof recommends Siasia for Super Eagles’ job
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.”
Nigerian Football
Plateau United’s Doyeni is first scorer of Season 2024/25
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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