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.
Rivers United head coach and technical manager, Finidi George, has praised young defender Ochiobi Elias following his outstanding performance in the club’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture on Wednesday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
The left-back, who played the full 90 minutes, was instrumental in helping Rivers United maintain a clean sheet, marking one of his most confident outings since his promotion to the senior squad.
Finidi, visibly impressed after the match, revealed that his decision to give Elias a full game was driven by trust in the player’s potential, despite his limited minutes earlier in the season.
“I think he did well. Normally, we should have been bringing him in gradually — maybe 15 minutes before giving him a 90-minute match,” Finidi said. “But I trust him, and I’ve spoken to him. He should be relaxed, calm down, and play his football.”
The coach also highlighted a near-miss moment when Elias came close to scoring late in the game, a chance Finidi felt could have crowned his stellar performance.
“I think today he would have scored a goal at the last moment, but he still wanted to square the ball, look for somebody,” Finidi added. “I’m quite happy with his performance, and we will keep encouraging him to do better. I am very, very pleased.”
Elias, a product of the Rivers United youth team that won the NPFL Youth League in 2024, has been gradually integrated into the first team under Finidi’s guidance. His performance on Wednesday is seen as a major step forward in his development and a sign of his growing confidence.
The youngster is now expected to retain his place in the squad as Rivers United travel to Aba this Sunday for a crucial NPFL clash against Enyimba.
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Strategic partners of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the President Federation Cup, GTI Group, have congratulated the football governing body on the successful hosting of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a press statement issued on Friday in Lagos, GTI’s Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, lauded the NFF Board under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for the smooth conduct of the AGM and the significant progress made in Nigerian football development.
According to Ekejiuba, the Ibadan meeting reflected Gusau’s commitment to engaging stakeholders and strengthening unity across the football ecosystem.
“GTI Group congratulates the Nigeria Football Federation on the successful outcome of its Annual General Meeting held in Ibadan, which the President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, used the occasion to demonstrate his commitment to engaging positively with football stakeholders, including state football associations, clubs and fans,” he said.
“His interactions with the various groups at the AGM showcased his impactful leadership and dedication to promoting Nigerian football and fostering a collaborative environment.”
Ekejiuba also highlighted the Super Falcons’ recent achievements and the growth of domestic competitions, particularly the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), as key milestones recorded under Gusau’s leadership. GTI serves as a strategic partner of the NPFL, supporting its structural and commercial transformation.
The statement further expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for their hospitality and support during the AGM. Ekejiuba noted the governor’s commendation of the improved standard of refereeing in the NPFL under the administration of Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye.
However, GTI also used the opportunity to express disappointment over the early exit of Kwara United and Abia Warriors from the CAF Confederation Cup, urging Nigerian clubs to raise their competitive standards on the continental stage.
“It is unfortunate that both Kwara United and Abia Warriors crashed out at the preliminary phase of the CAF Confederation Cup last weekend. This clearly shows that Nigerian clubs must raise their game in order to compete favourably,” the statement read.
“The future remains bright, but that is why GTI has been calling on Corporate Nigeria to invest more in our football, just as is done in thriving leagues across the world.”
Ekejiuba also extended words of encouragement to Remo Stars and Rivers United, who are still flying Nigeria’s flag in the CAF Champions League.
“We encourage them to dig deep and remain focused to ensure successful campaigns. They should give Nigerian football fans something to cheer this season because we understand how demanding continental competitions can be,” he concluded.
GTI Group reaffirmed its continued commitment to working closely with the NFF to advance football development, promote professionalism, and attract sustainable investment into the Nigerian game.
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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has queried Warri Wolves following reports of the suspension of their head coach, Aluma Napoleon, faulting the club’s failure to comply with established procedures for contracting and registering technical officials.
In a letter titled “Notarization and Registration of Contracts” and signed by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the league body directed the Delta-based club to regularize all contractual documentation with its technical and management staff in line with NPFL regulations.
The NPFL’s letter stated:
“Information reaching us from the media space suggests that the Delta State Sports Commission has suspended your head coach, Mr. Aluma Napoleon, with immediate effect.”
Citing Sections B, Articles 6 and 11 of the NPFL 2025/26 Framework and Rules, the league reminded Warri Wolves that all clubs are required to submit notarized contracts of their officials for registration and record purposes.
“You are, however, in breach of these sections as Warri Wolves FC have not submitted the contracts of its officials to the League Board. You are hereby requested, within twenty-four hours of receiving this letter, to submit all relevant contracts of your technical team, including that of the assumed suspended head coach, Mr. Napoleon Aluma, to the NPFL Secretariat,” the letter warned.
The NPFL further cautioned that failure to comply could lead to sanctions, including restricting Warri Wolves’ technical crew from accessing the bench in subsequent league matches.
“Note that failure to comply with this instruction will lead to the restriction of your technical team from accessing the technical area in future NPFL matches,” the league stated.
In a related statement to NPFL Media, COO Davidson Owumi stressed that the Warri Wolves case was not isolated, adding that all clubs yet to register the contracts of their technical officials must do so without delay.
“I must admonish all coaches to get hold of their contracts and lodge a report with the NPFL when there is a violation of the terms. It is the responsibility of the aggrieved to petition the league at all times,” Owumi emphasized.
The NPFL has been tightening administrative controls in recent seasons to ensure transparency, professionalism, and adherence to contractual obligations across all participating clubs.
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