OBITUARY
Coaching Adieu, Mfon Bassey
By Cornelius Ehimiaghe
On November 2, 2025, the cold hand of death struck again. As die-hard supporters of Bendel Insurance FC of Benin pondered how their beloved team would escape the relegation waters, they were blindsided by heartbreaking news—the passing of their former goal machine, Mfon Bassey.
Bassey was adored and respected by the supporters of the Benin Arsenal for his remarkable calmness in front of goal. With effortless composure, he made scoring look easy.
Until his passing in his fifties, he served as a football coach with the Edo State Sports Commission, bravely battling health challenges in the months preceding his death.
Born in Ibadan to the late Pa Jonah Mfon and the late Mrs. Paulina Mfon of Ewang Village, Oron District, Akwa Ibom State, Bassey was the second son in the family.
He attended St. Williams Primary School, Ibadan, and Ibadan Grammar School, Molete, where his football journey truly began.
He sharpened his talents with youth clubs such as Greater Tomorrow and Liberty Boys before earning his first paid football job with Ogun/Osun River Basin Authority FC.
In 1989, Bendel Insurance scouts spotted Bassey during a pre-season friendly. Invited to Benin City for trials, he quickly convinced coach Alabi Aisien and his crew—who needed only a few bounce games to see what others had overlooked.
What Shooting Stars failed to recognize under their noses, Bendel Insurance embraced wholeheartedly: a striker with intelligence, instinct, and finesse. Bassey was promptly signed, instantly becoming the perfect complement to fellow striker Roland Ewere.
A technically complete forward, Bassey was comfortable with both feet and exceptional in the air. He was not the typical burly striker who bullied defenders; instead, he relied on his sharp football brain, impeccable positioning, and the ability to convert crosses and through balls.
After a hard shift up front, he was occasionally deployed as a false 10, linking midfield and attack with seamless ease.
Bassey adapted quickly to life in Benin City, donning the green and yellow of Bendel Insurance for seven seasons. Even when wealthier clubs came calling, he remained loyal to the Benin Arsenal.
His 1993 exploits brought him national recognition, finishing runner-up in the league with Bendel Insurance and also in the race for the league’s top scorer—second only to Tony Nwaigwe of Iwuanyanwu Nationale. He was part of the squad that lifted the WAFU Cup that year.
In 1994, he led the line with purpose and precision as Bendel Insurance clinched the CAF Cup, defeating Primeiro de Maio of Angola 3–1 on aggregate. Bassey scored the third goal in the decisive second leg at Ogbe Stadium—a strike etched in the club’s history as Insurance’s only continental trophy to date. The team also retained the WAFU Cup that same year, overcoming Plateau United of Jos.
Bassey moved to Nigerdock FC of Lagos in 1995, spending a few seasons there before pursuing opportunities in Belgium and Qatar.
Though his foreign trials did not yield contracts, he remained undeterred. At the peak of his career, he earned an invitation to the home-based Super Eagles camp in 1994 but, unfortunately, was not capped in the star-studded national side.
In the twilight of his career, he featured for Esan United before transitioning fully into coaching. He completed a coaching course at the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Lagos, in 2016, and later earned an NCE in Physical and Health Education from the College of Physical Education, Afuze.
Bassey coached various teams, including Green Force and Yak United. Before becoming a certified football coach, he was also a passionate darts player and coach, representing Edo State at the National Sports Festival, where he won gold medals.
Until his passing, Bassey was married to Mrs. Joy Ehigiamusoe Mfon. He is survived by three children—Imabong, Enobong, and Duke Mfon.
Mfon Bassey’s goal-scoring exploits remain evergreen in the hearts of thousands of Bendel Insurance supporters. His burial will take place on November 14, 2025, at his residence in Benin City.
May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.
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French cyclist Charles Coste, who had been the world’s oldest living Olympic gold medallist, has died aged 101, French media reported on Sunday.
Coste, who won Olympic gold in track cycling’s team pursuit alongside Pierre Adam, Serge Blusson, and Fernand Decanali, passed away on Thursday.
He had been the world’s oldest living Olympic gold medallist following the death of Hungarian artistic gymnast Agnes Keleti at the age of 103 on 2 January 2025.
Coste was one of the torchbearers during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
His record also includes the 1949 Grand Prix des Nations, a 140-km time trial in which he beat Italian Fausto Coppi, a Tour de France and Giro d’Italia champion.
Charles Cost, who will turn 100 years old on Thursday, Olympic champion in Men’s Team Pursuit in track cycling at the 1948 London Games and oldest living French Olympic champion, poses with a cyclist figurine during an interview at his apartment, in Bois-Colombes, near Paris, France, February 5, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
-Reuters
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Spanish fifth-division goalkeeper Raul Ramirez has died at the age of 19 following a collision during a match for his club Colindres, the Cantabrian Football Federation (RFCF) said on Monday.
Ramirez sustained a head injury during Saturday’s game against Revilla, with Spanish media reporting that the impact led to multiple cardiac arrests and left him brain dead.
The RFCF announced three days of mourning and said a minute’s silence would be observed at all matches next week in his memory.
-Reuters
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Former Liverpool and Chelsea manager Matt Beard has died at the age of 47, the two Women’s Super League (WSL) clubs announced late on Saturday.
Beard led Liverpool to back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014 during his first stint at the club, before returning to the side in 2021 and guiding them back to the top-flight after two seasons in the second tier.
He left Liverpool in February, with his last coaching role coming in a brief spell in charge of Burnley between June and August.
“The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Matt’s family and friends at this devastating time,” Liverpool said in a statement.
“Matt was not only an extremely committed and successful manager, he was also a person of real integrity and warmth, who will always be remembered with genuine fondness by everyone he worked with at the club.”
Beard began his managerial career at Millwall before moving to Chelsea in 2009. He also coached West Ham United, Boston Breakers and Bristol City.
-Reuters
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