Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has mourned the passing of ex Super Eagles coach, High Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, describing his death as “painful and devastating.”
Adeleke, who commiserated with the people of Modakeke, his hometown, and Nigeria’s football community for the loss, noted the football expert’s “exceptional life contributions, particularly in the growth and development of football in Nigeria and Africa.”
Adeleke, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, obtained in Osogbo on Tuesday, further said the death of the ex-Super Eagles coach, who took the team to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan/Korea, has denied Nigeria the service of a resourceful football administrator.
He condoled the immediate family of the deceased, the Ogunsua and people of Modakeke, the football community in Nigeria and Africa, and “everyone impacted by the passing of the accomplished football trainer, urging everyone touched by this loss to honour his memory by sustaining the legacy of touching lives.”
The statement read partly, “It is with a heart filled with pains that I offer my condolences to the Ogunsua and the people of Modakeke over the passing of one of its illustrious sons, High Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde.
“While he was alive, High Chief Onigbinde dedicated himself to shaping futures, using his knowledge of football to groom talents into stars in the arena of football,” Governor Adeleke was quoted to have said in a condolence message.
“His loss will leave a big void not just on the pitch but in his hometown, where his contributions over the years have uplifted dreams and shaped the economic direction of his people. High Chief Onigbinde’s development of Nigeria’s football development will linger in memories for generations.”
He prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and expressed hope that those he left behind, especially family members, would find solace and strength in the memories of his remarkable life of impact and the knowledge that his legacy will endure for generations.
Globally respected for his deep tactical knowledge, Onigbinde, who died on Monday evening, served as Technical Director of the NFF and Technical Adviser of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation for youth teams.
He also served for many years as a technical adviser to the Confederation of African Football and participated in several Technical Study Groups of FIFA and CAF at major championships.
Onigbinde began his coaching career in the 1960s and gained national recognition in 1977 after leading Water Corporation FC of Ibadan to the quarter-finals of the African Champions Cup.
In 1984, he guided Shooting Stars FC of Ibadan to the final of the same continental competition, further establishing his reputation as a top tactician.
A renowned teacher and instructor, he became the first indigenous coach to lead Nigeria’s senior national team to a medal at the Africa Cup of Nations.
He achieved the feat in 1984, winning a silver medal in Cote d’Ivoire with a team largely made up of rookies and a few experienced players.
Onigbinde later led the Super Eagles to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan, becoming the first indigenous coach to manage Nigeria at the global tournament.
Nigeria lost narrowly to Argentina and Sweden and drew with England during the tournament, which featured a mix of emerging players and experienced stars.
After his coaching career, he served as an instructor for the NFF, CAF and FIFA, dedicating his time to training coaches and football administrators across the continent.
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