Monday, 1 July 2013

Oliha’s widow reveals husband’s unfulfilled wish

Ilorin - The wife of  the late Thompson Oliha,  Iris,  said her husband had wished  to live in the house promised the winning 1994 class of the Super Eagles.

The bereaved wife in Ilorin in tears said that her late husband wished  that he would be alive to take possession of the house promised the  squad.

``The only thing that my husband did not live to witness was the house that the Federal Government promised the winning 1994 class of the Super Eagles.

``  He repeatedly asked  questions on what was causing the delay in fulfilling  the promise.

`` He said  his colleagues, Uche Okafor and Rashidi Yekini,  died without the promise being  fulfilled.

`` He did say that  he doesn't want to die before the Federal Government  fulfills  the promise, but, has it not happened  now?

`` This is highly unfortunate,’’ she said.

The Federal Government had in 1994 promised each player in the Super Eagles squad that won the African Cup of  Nations  in Tunisia a house.

``As at the time he gave up the ghost, he was still discussing about some players from Kano that were coming for  trials  at the Kwara Football Academy on Sunday,’’ she further said.

The mother of one, however,  denied the rumour that the former Super Eagles star had long been sick, saying  he never  complained  of any ailment.

She added: `` We had our normal discussion because we did discuss a lot. He even went to work yesterday because they played a match.

``He came back to take his shower. On Wednesday, they also went to Ibadan to play a match with the 3SC.

``So, if he was sick, how would he  have gone to Ibadan? ’’

Her late husband, she said, had the  utmost wish  to assist Nigerian  footballers to manage their wealth in the  belief that there was always life after a football career.

She also said that no burial arrangement had  been made yet for the deceased, noting that the family was  awaiting government's plan.

The widow also said that the family had not received any message from either the government or his 1994 Eagles mates.

Oliha  died in Ilorin in the early hours  of Sunday at the age  of  45.

He was survived by his aged mother, Mrs Alice Oliha, a wife,  and a four-year-old daughter, Patrice.

Until his death, Oliha was a coach with the Kwara Football Academy in  Ilorin. (NAN)

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