Fallen Eagle, Oliha Goes Home In Glory

 Well-deserved pomp and pageantry marked the final burial rites of Nigeria’s former World Cup star, Thompson Oliha, in his native Benin City on Friday.

 The no-hostage-taking midfielder, who died in Ilorin, Kwara State capital on the last day of June, was involved in several season-defining games in his career and it was apt that the Edo State Government, Kwara State government, Nigeria Football Federation, Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria and his former colleagues emblazed his passage with colour.

 A commemorative football match, organised by the Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria with the support of the Nigeria Football Federation, hallmarked the series of activities, lighting up the mood at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium – known as Ogbe Stadium in those days when Thompson Oliha first took to the field.

Edo State Commissioner for Sports, Lady Omorede Osifo, led the final respects, with other government functionaries, a representative team of the Kwara State Government and a strong NFF presence led by Executive Committee member, Barrister Olaleye Adepoju.

 The commemorative match, between ex-internationals and a pool of Kwara Football Academy (Oliha’s last employers) and Bendel Insurance FC stars, ended 1-1, and saw the likes of former Super Eagles’ Coach, Augustine Eguavoen, Alloy Agu, Emeka Ezeugo, Benedict Iroha, Bauldwin Bazuaye and Edema Fuludu in action.

Other dignitaries included the Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Sports, Edo State Director of Sports, Edo FA Chairman, Chief Abel Ehigie, FA Secretary Victor Edokpayi, Kwara State Director of Sports, a team from Kwara Football Academy, and president of APFON and ex-international Dahiru Sadi.

The remains of the fallen eagle was, afterwards, laid to rest in his house in Benin City. Oliha was a member of the Flying Eagles’ squad to the 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship in Chile, and then played for the Super Eagles at the 1990, 1992 and 1994 Africa Cup of Nations, winning the gold in Tunisia in 1994.

He was also a member of Nigeria’s debutant squad at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in USA.