EX TEAM-MATES PAY TRIBUTE TO RASHIDI YEKINI AFTER 1 YEAR OF HIS DEMISE

                    

                   

Rashidi Yekini was an ex Nigerian international whose career spanned more than two decades, across various countries. The ex Vitoria setubal's starwalt is the super eagles all time highest goal scorer scoring 37 goals in 58 appearances. The 1994 African footballer of the year also got Nigeria's first ever goal @ the FIFA World cup. He represented his nation with pride in five major tournaments, including two world Cups.

                      

In 2011, news media in Nigeria begun issuing reports of his failing health and he was said to suffer from bipolar disorder, depression and some other undisclosed neurological condition. He died in Ibadan on 4 May 2012 at the age of only 48...

Today makes it exactly a year since he died, and activities marking the anniversary of the late star included a memorial lecture which held on Thursday and a memorial match which was in form of Ibadan all stars Vs Lagos All star at the Lekan Salami Stadium.

                        

Former Super Eagles player and coach,Samson Siasia,has described former Nigerian striker,Late Rashidi Yekini,as the greatest player the country has ever produced.

Siasia who was speaking at the one year memorial lecture and book launch in Ibadan on Thursday, held in honour of the player,said that the lethal striker was the best to have come out from Nigeria.

”Rashidi Yekini was the best player Nigeria ever produced,” Siasia noted.

“He was the player who qualified Nigeria to our first-ever World Cup, scored Nigeria’s first-ever goal in the World Cup and won the highest goal scorer at the Nations Cup, he will always be there in my heart.

“I was not there when he was buried, but when I got a call from his lawyer, I said to myself that this is an opportunity to pay my last respect to him.

“The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) need to do something for him because this was the player who made history for our country and he needs to be honoured. We need to honour our heroes who have done the country proud in one way or the other.”

                    

Ibadan All-Stars, renamed Yekini Friends, beat their Lagos counterparts 2-1 in the memorial in honor of the striker who died after a brief illness

In a match watched by a large crowd at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, former Shooting Stars utility star Gbenga Okunnowo scored the opening goal for hosts Ibadan All-Stars in the 30th minute, before Jide Adediran of Lagos All-Stars equalised for his side in the 38th minute.

                     
Former Yekini international teammate and ex-Shooting Stars general manager Mutiu Adepoju netted the winning goal for Ibadan All-Stars through a trademark header in the 42nd minute.

Lagos were represented by the likes of former internationals like Friday Elaho, Wasiu Ipaye and Taju Disu, while Ibadan lined up former Eagles coach Austin Eguavoen, Eagles goalkeeper trainer Ike Shorunmu, Dimeji Lawal, Adepoju,Okunowo, Raymond King and Bright Omokaro.