UD Leganes of Spain defender, Kenneth Omeruo has joined in mourning former Super Eagles’ captain and head coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi by writing a long memorial script in honour of the man that gave him his breakthrough in the Nigerian national team, megasportsarena.com reports.
Keshi (The Big Boss) it was that first capped Omeruo in the Eagles, just three years after the dark-skinned central defender starred for Nigeria’s cadet national team, Golden Eaglets, en route to finishing second behind Switzerland at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Abuja.
Although many observers felt at that time that the former Sunshine Stars of Akure and Standard Liege of Belgium stopper, who was then on loan at ADO Den Haag of Holland from Chelsea of England, was too young to be in the senior national team, Keshi kept trust with the lanky lad.
Keshi’s trust led to Omeruo soon upstaging then skipper of the Eagles, Joseph Ikpo Yobo in the starting line-up, alongside fellow-former Sunshine Stars stopper, Godfrey Oboabona, as they former a formidable partnership in winning the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
After shocking the continent in winning Nigeria’s third continental title in The Rainbow Nation, they both excelled together again at the 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup and 2014 World Cup, both of which held in Brazil, such that Omeruo would admit Keshi gave him a solid foundation in the Eagles.
Aside a dramatic catchy moment when cameras caught Omeruo hugging Keshi during the Eagles’ celebration of their AFCON 2013 success, ‘The Big Boss’ showed how much he also cares for the then 19-year-old lad, when he sent words of encouragement to him after the defender copped a head cut during the Confederation Cup and shoulder injury that needed surgery in August 2013.
“We have been in constant touch and he has been very enthusiastic about the operation that was carried out last week Wednesday and he is now recuperating very well which is good news to me personally and to the entire national team.
“The shocking thing is that while he was at the hospital for the operation, he was monitoring the game and speaking constantly to me, which shows his total dedication to the team and Nigerian football,” Keshi said back then, and Omeruo is now reciprocating.
He was among the oldest surviving lads in the Nigerian squad, which won bronze at last year’s AFCON, with only current captain, Ahmed Musa and John Ogu among his teammates that were also there at Brazil 2014 and Egypt 2019, but he will not forget where it all began for him.
Such it is that Omeruo has now added his lengthy rundown of emotional and solemn words to mark the fourth year memorial of Keshi’s death, which occurred when ‘The Big Boss’ suffered a heart attack late one night in Benin City, where he also launched his career into global limelight with New Nigeria Bank FC.
While several stakeholders of Nigerian football, including administrators, journalists, coaches, fans and corporate moguls reeled out lofty words in memory of Keshi, who died on June 7, 2016, Omeruo took to social media to unfold his long article to reveal the depth of his love for the coach that gave his national team breakthrough and memories of the time they shared together.
Omeruo posted on Sunday: “ITS BEEN FOUR YEARS ALREADY AND I AM STILL HOPPING I WOULD ONE DAY PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL YOU LIKE I USE TO.. 😥 I miss you.. But I am sad I am very sad that I am beginning to get used to your absence..
“But one thing I will never forget, is your advice, your encouragements, you gave me more than one chances and you told me several times, until it stuck to my head, that everyone cannot love me.. you told me to work hard always and not expect to be favored because hard work always wins.. you gave me an opportunity at a very young age even when I wasn’t expecting it.. I was content with just making the squad.. and u never asked for anything in return..
“I remember against Ivory Coast, with the likes of @didierdrogba @realtoureyaya I didn’t know how to prepare for that game because I was a bit panicked 😊 I remember u telling us we will get to the final even when we haven’t played Ivory Coast yet.. I went into that game with so much passion.
“We used to talk about Chelsea and every time my contract is extended, u will congratulate me and tell me it’s like they don’t want to let me go, But guess what Boss, I Finally left Chelsea, and I am even more happy than I use to be..
“I got married and we have a beautiful Daughter Chairein and she is Adorable and looks like me 😂.. okay maybe not.. you would have loved her.. I had to write all this now because i just realized u weren’t here to see it all.. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING DADDY.. KEEP RESTING IN PEACE COACH KESHI 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 FOREVER IN MY HEART.”
