As the football world continue to mourn
the death of the former Super Eagles captain and coach Stephen Keshi,
family members of the deceased are still ‘blank’ to comprehend the fact
that their beloved father and brother has indeed passed to the great
beyond.In an exclusive chat with NAIJ.com Sports, Keshi’s look-alike
nephew Ebuka narrates what the last moments of the late tactician,
saying it is still unbelievable.Excerpts:
How is the family coping?
Well,
the family is still in shock. It’s a real big loss to us. It’s like
where you have an unsuspected volcano erupt immediately without your
control.We are still in grief. The wound is still very fresh as though
the incident is re-occurring every day.Waking up every second and not
having him, not hearing his voice is huge loss, shock. Well thank God
that so far so good, we were all holding-up.Keshi’s look-alike nephew,
EbukaThere is nothing we can do. We just have to hold-up and be strong
because I believe itis what he wants us to do; to be strong.
What’s your one-on-one relationship with the late legend like?
A
lot of persons know me as his nephew; I can’t remember a single
occasion that he referred to me as his nephew, like wise I do not refer
to him like a nephew.He is my brother and also a father to me. We’ve
lived together for a long time now and in fact … losing a brother which
is very close and dear to me is still heavy.This morning I woke up from
sleep waiting to hear his voice as usual, it was not there. Waiting to
hear the knock on my door, it was not there. Waiting to hear him call
our 'oya oboy come open gate for me let me go to the gym’, it was not
there. So, I just think it is what we have to live with for a very long
time to come.
Can you describe what happened on that fateful day?
He
was happy. He was talking, he called me into his room on two separate
occasions and was just getting himself ready to pray and I helped him
position his pillow, he sat up, he talked.He said 'ah oboy e be like say
cold dey, help me off this fan’, and I did. He said he will rest a bit
and then start his prayers.Then I left for the living room. Moments
later, he called me again and was like ‘this room don dey warm again’,
so I put the fan on again.And he said‘I will call you when I am done
again’. We talked and there was no indication that I would not have him
like that to talk to again, I will not have him around, I will not be
able to smile with him, you know … laugh with him.It never just … not
the slightest of clue there that that was what we were going to
experience some minutes to come. He was full of life; basically full of
life.
Can you confirm if he was to leave for the US that day?
Ah…
I know he was supposed to take a trip out of Edo state. We did not
really discuss if it was going to be an onward transition to the US, but
I just know that he was getting himself for a trip to Lagos.We did not
discuss if he was to go to the US afterwards, because he discusses his
movement.What can we say? What can we do? He is gone, it has happened,
we are grieving, we are still sore… We just have to live with it.
What will Nigeria miss about the late ‘Big Boss’?
His
name as we all know is a big market anytime. Everybody wants to be
associated with him. He does his thing the right way it should be done;
not cutting corners.On the field as a professional footballer in his
active playing days, even till retirement, it’s been the same thing. So I
think Nigeriaas a whole will miss the professionalism this man brings
to the fore.
https://www.naij.com/855614-exclusive-keshis-nephew-reveals-last-moments-legendary-coach.html?_e_pi_=7%2CPAGE_ID10%2C2837770117
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