Kwara State Government’s Fond Gesture to Rashidi Yekini News

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Kwara State Government’s Fond Gesture to Rashidi Yekini

By Daily sports on September 14, 2020

As you know, one of the best leagues in the globe, the very crowd pulling English Premiership kicked off last week Saturday and from day one proved book makers dead wrong. Some pundits have come to believe this is the way to go even as the week in week out sweating holds on. Arsenal took full pound of flesh from Fulham in their opener right in front of their fans. Trust English teams, they have large followership in Nigeria and the glamour of it has started as Nigerian fans are already showing the stuff they are made of. This newspaper will, as tradition, be in the forefront. Stay with us.

Another important issue that must not escape at least mention in this column is the tireless efforts of the ever workaholic Governor of Rivers State, Governor Nyesom E, Wike. ‘Mr Projects’, as he is fondly called, recently inspected the ultra-modern facilities of Real Madrid Football Academy in Port Harcourt with cheering news that works will be completed by the end of this month.

If that is not overwhelming empowerment of the youths, I wonder what is. This practical governor, that never pretends has remained on the front burner of touching the lives of his people. This column stands to be proved wrong. No segment of his people would raise a finger that his/her community and those close to them have not been touched by this governor and his government since 2015.

This is what is called achievement everlasting. One would say it even to high heavens that ‘he is my man’, because he is bold, unequivocal, frank, resourceful, urbane, an embodiment of A, B, C of governance and what have you. His style of leadership and implementation of governance strips bare even his ardent critics. It is obvious that larger audience listen when he speaks due largely to the fact that he does not speak on drop of hat. He not only hits the nail on the head but calls a spade by its name too.

Real Madrid Football Academy has come to stay and would serve a model of such in all its ramifications. We are on top of the happenings around the project whose time has come.

As this week’s topics for your favourite column were being considered, the news of the renaming of Kwara State Stadium Ilorin after late ex-international and former Africa Footballer of the Year, goals King, Rashidi Yekini came and pronto, all others were discarded as it became super chief news item amongst all due largely to its significance in both Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole.

I was in my study doing research on one of the topics I was to treat, and then this came. The gesture by the State Government though belated, however, came when the popular saying ‘It is better late than Never” became more expedient and I celebrated it graciously hence it topped the others to make it here this week.

My humble submission here is that the late ex-international footballer needs no introduction as his exploits in the field of play was so glaring and superb and so I don’t have to dwell much on this. He made the country proud and those of us that covered this beat when he held sway in the Super Eagles can safely say this and know better too.

I met him during the famous Tunisia 1994 AFCON when the country lifted the trophy and US 1994 which was icing of that fantastic Super Eagles class of 1994 which right or wrong remains the best ever the country has showcased.

I doff my hat for Kwara State Government for deeming it fit to name the sports arena after the late ex-international who not only wrote his name in gold in football in the country, continent and the World. I must confess that the decision to engrave the name of Rashidi Yekini in everlasting marble remains not only cheering news but it also sweetens the minds of millions of the most beautiful sport in the World. It also neutralises the argument of those that believe it does not pay to die ‘for this very ungrateful country called Nigeria where man’s inhumanity to fellow man holds like norm.’

The honour extended to the late leggy goals king is not only heartwarming but also roundly deserved. It is still receiving applause from all and sundry. I also thumbed up Kwara State government for that immense gesture after the Federal Government failed woefully to honour him most. However one believes that Rahidi Yekini’s soul and body would now rest in peace after the honour by his State government.

That therefore brings us to ask how his aged Mother is faring right now. She and whoever he left behind should be cared for if nothing towards that direction has been done ever since. Rashidi Yekini did not deserve less. It is once again kudos to Kwara State Government for this and this brings to the fore other state governments that have constantly looked the other way or closed their eyes on what concerns our ex-internationals in their respective states that need or deserve honour.

One need not remind them of such responsibilities to them. What the Anambra State Government offered towering ex-international goal tender, Emmanuel Okala forced tears of joy from my eyes when I watched him once again agile, recalling his experiences on the game then, on Channels Television Sunday Sports programme some weeks back. The Okala I saw gave me glimmer of hope and sense of responsibility on the part of Governor Willy Obiano’s government. I told no one else that this is how it should be. These men and women need not beg for it, rather they deserved it wholly. Period.

We need more of these and of a truth, their labours would not be in vain and most importantly, it is not only when they fell severally sick that we can show love or remember them. This is the time to do so. That would only be good enough. Thanks to Kwara State government for the gesture on late Rashidi Yekini.

Let’s resort to our usual trending sports discussions on our ever busy social media platforms, where we are frank talking or discussing sports of all kinds as a way of life. Keep shooting hard till next week, as the struggle continues!!

Source Daily sports

Posted September 14, 2020