Sports
Mathematical Segun Odegbami loses son, Oluwagbeminiyi
Oluwagbeminiyi, son of Nigeria’s most celebrated football ex-international, Patrick Olusegun Odegbami is dead.
The 1980 Africa Cup of Nations winner with the then Green Eagles, disclosed this in a tribute he wrote in his memory.
Odegbami, popularly known in his hey days as: “Mathematical Segun Odegbami,” wrote: “Oluwagbeminiyi Omo Odegbami – the simple pilgrim returns home!
“It is completely impossible to think that I am writing about Oluwagbeminiyi Omo Odegbami in the past tense.
“One day to Good Friday, his message woke me up whilst I was in Accra, Ghana. He wanted my summary of the synopsis of the documentary project we were working on.
“I told him not to wait for me but to go ahead and apply his abundant creativity to the project. I was not exaggerating. Gbemi was an unknown and unappreciated G. He was a highly gifted, multi-talented young man. His writing skills, poetic literature in musical lyrics, rapping, elocution when he reads, and unique culinary skills, were all in this laid back young man whose life is simple, spartan and secluded, with no intention whatsoever to disturb the equilibrium of the chaotic world around him.
“Four hours after our exchange, I receive the first of endless phone calls that eventful day, last Thursday: Gbemi is not feeling well; Gbemi is being taken to a hospital; the hospital has referred Gbemi to another hospital.
“I direct that he be taken to a specialist hospital. His situation is critical. The hospital works on him for hours. Twelve hours after our first communication, and exactly 5 minutes past midnight, at the birth of Good Friday (a significant day in Christendom), the doctors call me for the umpteenth time that day to break my heart with the news that haunts me till now – Gbemi has passed on!
“Would it have happened had I not travelled? Would I have handled his situation better? It was a shocking, devastating, painful and incomprehensible news. Good people should not die! Why should this young man, at the start of a new exciting chapter of his life, die so suddenly? Except, of course, (and I now believe so) that it is part of a divine plot that his spirit catches up with that of the ‘dead’ on Good Friday, his sins and transgressions wiped away on the cross of Calvary through Grace at Easter. His soul must be resting peacefully now with the Creator of the Universe.
“This ‘sermon’ has become my consolation. This kind, gentle and simple heart, must no longer be tortured by the difficult challenges of his life in his world over which he had little control.
“Gbemi, until his death, was unfamiliar with world’s complex ways. His easy going life was totally harmless to anyone. His love riveted on his little son, his mother, his sisters, his music, his cooking, his song-writing, his friends and his current work in the radio station – probably in that order.
“He finally found peace, plus the space and opportunity to express his multiple skills without the pressure of any external scrutiny, enjoying his productions in sights, performances and sounds.
“Then death comes like a thief in the night to steal all of that, snatch him away and leave us with a yawning space in the puzzle of life. Personally, this hurts real bad.
“I miss Oluwagbeminiyi Omo Odegbami, an absolutely brilliant mind that is encapsulated in the frail body of a simple and gentle pilgrim. He came to the world, played his part quietly amidst unbelievable challenges, and now departs leaving a legacy of love and kindness to all those he encountered on his journey.
“He told me some weeks ago that what he had missed the most in his life were the love, guidance and friendship of a father, but that he was happy to have finally found them in a relationship with me.
“Adieu Son, as you return (on the 4th day) to our Creator this morning!”
Sports
CAF Confederation Cup: Enyimba fight back to draw against Zamalek
Enyimba fought back from a 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with holders Zamalek of Egypt in their CAF Confederation Cup Group D clash in Uyo.
Seifeddine Jaziri put Zamalek ahead three minutes after the half-hour mark.
The visitors doubled their advantage through Omar Faraj four minutes before the break.
Enyimba showed their resilience by pulling a goal back in first-half stoppage time through Ifeanyi Ihemekwele before Ufere Chinedu equalised in the 57th minute.
The People’s Elephant had chances to win the game but were let down by their poor finishing.
Daniel Olanrewaju’s side now have one point from two games.
The Aba giants will travel to Mozambique for their next game against Black Bulls.
Sports
Osimhen scores 10th Galatasaray goal in Sivasspor thriller
Nigerian international Victor Osimhen delivered an impressive performance, scoring his seventh goal of the season as 10-man Galatasaray secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory against Sivasspor in a dramatic match on Sunday.
The game started with Osimhen narrowly missing an early opportunity in the 8th minute, his powerful shot flashing just wide of the post.
However, the contest took a controversial turn in the 15th minute when Metehan Baltaci received a red card after a VAR review, leaving the visitors a man down.
Sivasspor capitalised on their numerical advantage in the 25th minute. Garry Rodrigues pounced on a rebound from goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to smash the ball into the roof of the net, putting the home side 1-0 ahead.
Galatasaray responded swiftly, equalising in the 36th minute. Yunus Akgun’s shot benefitted from a goalkeeping error, bringing the score to 1-1.
Moments later, Osimhen came close again, his header in stoppage time denied by an excellent save.
Just before half-time, Galatasaray earned a penalty after Djordje Nikolic’s foul. Osimhen stepped up and confidently converted the kick, sending the ball into the top right corner to give Galatasaray a 2-1 lead.
The visitors extended their advantage early in the second half when Baris Alper Yilmaz scored in the 53rd minute, assisted by Yunus Akgun, making it 3-1.
Sivasspor fought back, with Turac Boke reducing the deficit a minute into added time after connecting with Noah Sonko Sundberg’s cross.
Sports
Man City’s Pep Guardiola Responds To José Mourinho Jibe
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he was only joking when he referred to winning twice as many Premier League titles as José Mourinho, after the former Chelsea boss said that he had won his titles fairly.
The Spaniard also said City were innocent until proven guilty, responding to Mourinho’s allusions to their alleged violations of Premier League financial rules from 2009 to 2018, which the club has always denied.
Guardiola, who held up six fingers to Liverpool fans on Sunday, a gesture similar to Mourinho holding up three fingers in 2018 before getting sacked by Manchester United, had made the comment when asked if he could suffer a fate similar to the Portuguese.
“I hope not in my case … He won three, I won six … but we are the same like that,” Guardiola answered.
Mourinho responded to Guardiola’s comment on Friday, ahead of his team Fenerbahce’s clash with Besiktas.
“I won fairly and cleanly … I don’t want to win by dealing with 150 court cases,” Turkish outlet Hurriyet quoted Mourinho as saying.
City did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Mourinho’s statement.
Guardiola, speaking to reporters later on Friday, said he had no bad intentions when making the comment about Mourinho.
“If I have offended him, I am so sorry. But it was a joke. The fact is he has three and I have six, it is a fact. But the intention was completely fine,” he said.
“I think both with our teams – he with Chelsea, myself with Man City – we can sit in the table with Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsène Wenger right? For the many, many titles we’ve won. I’m pretty sure sooner or later they will congratulate us.”
Guardiola said there were many people around the world who wanted to see City at the bottom.
“We are innocent until proven as guilty. After that we’ll see what happens, but it is what it is,” he added.
Mourinho has taken shots at City before, saying in October that he was hoping he could add a fourth Premier League medal to his cabinet if City are stripped of their titles and United, who finished second in 2017-18, are awarded the Premier League trophy.
Chelsea, where Mourinho won his three English top-flight titles in 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2014-15, are being investigated by the Premier League for potential financial rule breaches between 2012 and 2019.
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Emmanuel adekola
April 3, 2024 at 1:01 am
accept my condolences message bro though it’s quite painful to loose the loved ones, but who are we to question God. God will spare the rest, as I pray for you and your household that no evil shall befall you again ijmn