Date: 2012-05-13

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari on Saturday eulogized fallen Nigerian legend, Rashidi Yekini, saying the late footballer lived a life of service and honour.

Speaking in Ira, Kwara State during the Eighth Day Prayer for the departed 'goalsfather', Maigari pledged that the NFF would launch an annual U-15 National Championship in honour of late Yekini, and also recommend to the Federal Government, through the National Sports Commission, for him to be given a post-humous National Award.

"Also, we plan to organize a Memorial Match in his honour, which will bring together players of his USA'94 Class and a Nigeria Selected, which will be played at the Ilorin Township Stadium," Maigari said at the palace of the Onira of Ira, Oba Abdulwahab Oyetoro.

He said further: "The NFF is looking into getting our players to invest for their future while still active, and will also look into the possibility of working with our sponsors to put in place a special fund to take care of the welfare of our national heroes while active and retired, though we have been doing that within our limited resources."

The Onira of Ira, Oba Oyetoro welcomed the NFF delegation and urged the Federal Government to name a national monument after the legend.

In company with NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh, Executive Committee members High Chief Emeka Inyama and Dr. Shehu Adamu and his personal assistant Nasiru Jibril, Maigari then visited the family house of late Yekini, where he met the mother, Alhaji Sakirat Yekini and his widow.

Kwara State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Kayode Tewoju and the Chairman of the Oyun Local Government
Area, Mr Ibrahim Omoniyi were also part of the delegation.

At the family house, Maigari and his team delivered a letter of condolence to the family, as well as letters of condolence from FIFA President Sepp Blatter and CAF President Issa Hayatou.

The delegation then moved to the Ira Community School ground for the prayer.

Earlier on Friday, just as they landed at the Ilorin International Airport, Maigari and team were met by Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, who applauded the efforts of the NFF since the death of the football hero, saying the Federation did well to have representatives at the burial and also send a strong team to the Eighth Day prayer.