Date: 2012-06-01

AFTER a decade and a half of searching for a capable replacement for the legendary footballer -Teslim Balogun, came Rasidi Yekini — "The goal father". He was spotted by coach Jubril while playing for UNTL, Kaduna. He was later lured to IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan by Coach Onigbinde. Rashidi Yekini surely knew the enormous task and responsibility on his shoulders, if he were to follow the footsteps of those before him:Ifeanyi Oyedika, Segun Odegbami, Richy Onobokiri etc. And he never disappointed. He complied with the instructions of his coaches in all the clubs he played for. And by extension, Nigeria was glad with his services and contributions while in the national team from 1984-1998. Late Yekini deserves to be immortalised, and the most ideal thing to do is to name the Kwara State stadium after him. Kwara State by naming a stadium after him would only be toeing the footsteps of other governors in the region:Lagos, Delta and Bayelsa states respectively, where Teslim Balogun, Jay Jay Okocha and Samson Siasia were honoured. I am happy the Kwara State governor was the first among his peers to pay a condolence visit to Yekini's family. Nigeria’s current Minister of Sport was also at the burial ceremony, where he declared Yekini as the greatest striker Nigeria has ever produced. By this statement.

The late Yekini deserves the best Kwarans can offer their illustrous ‘son of the soil’. The era of naming sport stadia and complexes after politicians/administrators who use the peoples' funds to build such edifice is fast fading out, and must also be discouraged

Bright Ofuyah,
Ilorin, Kwara State.