President of FIFA, Mr. Gianni Infantino has sent a letter of condolence to NFF President Amaju Pinnick over the death on Saturday of one of Nigeria’s greatest coaches ever, Shuaibu Amodu.
Infantino wrote: “Please accept my deepest condolences on hearing that the former coach of the Super Eagles and national technical director, Shaibu Amodu, has passed away, just a few days after the death of Stephen Keshi.
“On behalf of the international football community, please allow me to extend my sincerest condolences to the football community of Nigeria and, most of all, Amodu’s family, friends and loved ones. We hope that, in some way, our words of support may help bring a little bit of peace and solace in this time of sadness.”
The Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Hon. Silas Agara was at the NFF secretariat on Tuesday to convey the deep sense of sorrow of the government and people of the ‘State of Solid Minerals’ on the deaths of coaching greats Stephen Keshi and Shuaibu Amodu.
“The government and people of Nasarawa State are in deep mourning over the death of these two legends. Keshi was a superstar player and replicated the same qualities as a coach.
“As for Amodu, he was by all means one of us in Nasarawa State. He coached Nasarawa United alongside coaches like Dan Amokachi, Zachary Baraje and Ben Duamlong. Amodu and Keshi were great sons of Nigeria and Africa and we will miss them dearly,” said Agara, who was Commissioner for Sports in Nasarawa State before becoming the deputy governor in the current dispensation.
He added: “I want to assure you that the government of Nasarawa State are already thinking of immortalizing these two great men.”
Responding, NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi thanked the deputy governor for leading a large delegation to commiserate with the NFF on the deaths of the two men, saying that death is a necessary end.
“The most certain thing in life is death. All of us will die one day but when, we don’t know. That is why it is important to make our way right with God, and to love our fellow human beings. Keshi and Amodu played their parts well and left their giant footprints in the sands of time.
