Wife, children, friends and many ex-internationals were on hand to pay their last respect to late ex-Super Eagles star Yisa Sofoluwe during the eight-day Fidau ceremony put together by family and friends.
Sofoluwe died of cerebral atrophy, a brain disease, at the University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) last Tuesday; he was interred at Atan Cemetery the following day and on Wednesday his family and friends converged at Rowe Park Yaba-Lagos to honour him with Fidau funeral rites in accordance to Islamic injunction.
Among ex-internationals that graced that occasion are Waidi Akanni, Jide Oguntuase, Taju Disu, Danladi Musa, Ganiy Akanni, Wasiu Ipaye, Friday Epko, Austin Popo, and Anthony Adeboye, special adviser on sport to Lagos State governor, representing Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
His children and close friends also talked about the final moment of a selfless and simple football legend.
Oguntuase was one of the friends called upon when his health collapsed and he was by his side till death.
He said: “It is sad he had to go that way, because when I was called upon and was with him during his last days, when I was talking to him, he was just saying something else. I felt very disturbed so I started making contacts. I had to call Tajudeen Ajide and Tajudeen Disu for support. The doctor told us that he had lost some cells in his brain. It was like having stroke because he couldn’t move his left hand and left leg and he wanted to talk, but whatever he was saying did not go along with what is going on. So, we just had to allow him be so that he can continue with treatment.
“When the help really came was when he gave up. The Lagos state government came in and the Sport Minister Sunday Dare and first vice-president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Bar. Seyi Akinwumi and the legends of Nigerian football sent assistance but it was too late. Waidi Akanni also tried because he started spending before assistance came. It is sad that help arrived too late.
“The former national U17 and U21 player revealed that Sofoluwe died because he did not come out on time to ask for help. “He was a gentleman to the core. He did not expose his problem. He did not want to put his problem on anybody. The illness did not start now and most of the issue he was having would have been solved before it became so big that he went into coma. His death really opened up other problems of ex-footballers. Now we know that Bili Tani, another ex-international is down with arthritis, and Joseph Enagwua is also down.
“They have now come out in the open to talk about their illnesses and that is the bane of ex-internationals problem. Many are silent because they don’t want to saddle anyone with their burden. It is a lesson that you have to speak out when you have problem so that you can get help.”
Austin and Adewale, sons of Yisa Sofoluwe described their father as a good man. “He was a good father who would always give a hundred percent of himself. He taught us well and in spite of the fact that the country did not do much for him, he used to tell us that whenever we had any opportunity to serve our country we should do it well, with all our might and strength, ” said Austin.
Sofoluwe was an active instructor and coach up till death came knocking. “In Agbede where he lived, he was an instructor and had many people that he took care of. Some of them are here for his Fidau ceremony. He was a pleasant person to be with. He was humble to a fault and very friendly. He had a youth team that he was training in Ajah and in Ikorodu,” said Adewale.
According to Disu, “I feel really sad that I will be standing here to talk about Sofoluwe in death. It is a sad thing to do. Yisa and I were close. We grew up together and we played in many teams together. We were in Flying Eagles and Abiola Babes together. He was an inspiration to us all. Yisa was one of the people that were penciled down for executives of Lagos State Players Union and so I feel sad that he died before we could release the list.”
Adeboye, representing the governor said: “He was humble and so respectful. He does not care how old you are he would accord give you all respect. We will do what we can for his family and they will not regret. In term of job for the children we would try our best to ensure that those he left behind do not suffer.”
Oguntuase brushed aside the issue of poor lifestyle of players as responsible for ill health and early deaths of footballers. “Lifestyle is not the issue here. Sofoluwe was a gentleman to the core. He does not drink nor smoke. Ajibade Babalade did not live a bad lifestyle. He was a gentleman.
“The problem is that we don’t get proper healthcare.
We are not asking the federal government and football authority to do anything for us but to take care of us medically. It is the least we can ask for. When we were playing we did not make so much money. We did not play for money. All we wanted to do was play for our country and make name. We played for the pride of our country. That is why we are calling on them to think about us too if not for any other thing, medically. They owe us that.
“Let them set up a fund for ex-internationals. Not just ex-internationals in football but in all sports. It will enable ex-international having medical issues to go there and take proper care of ourselves. This is how it is in Europe whereas if they have any issue they go straight to this places and sought their problem.
“I’m surprised that the NFF do not have anything on ground to support their football heroes. It is very sad,” Oguntuase added.

By Taiwo Alimi