I have a message from late Best Ogedegbe! I did not hear his voice, No! On the day of his funeral last weekend I simply sat quietly in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Oke Ado, Ibadan, looked around the full congregation that had come to pay their last respect to him, and tried to imagine what Best would have wanted to say to this audience of family, friends and fans were he to have the opportunity to return briefly. Then it came to me as a gentle thought. It flickered in my mind! At that instance I was invited to make a brief speech as chairman of the organising committee of the burial ceremony. I realised immediately that it was a divine script playing out. Best wanted me to speak for him.

His message was simple. Even in death, as he was laid in church, immobile and prostrate before the altar of the cross, Best was very happy and at peace. He was very grateful for the presence of the multitude that had come from far and near to honour him. He thanked everyone that had contributed to his burial arrangements and made it very stress-free for Shade, his wife, and his two daughters, Yejide and Gloria. He wanted his family to mourn less his death and celebrate more his life. He wanted his burial to be a legacy of some sort, to set a standard for the least that should be done to honour all those that die after diligently serving their country. Heroes of Nigerian football must not just be buried in some forlorn grave and forgotten. A programme, an edifice, a monument, anything that would serve as a reminder of who they were and what they contributed to the nation, must be erected in their honour to inspire the next generation! That was Best’s simple message.

It made sense and I stood up and expressed it, More than that I made a commitment on behalf of all footballers, retired and active that we shall make a contribution and present to the Church to support the building or completion of a structure within the church that would be named after him. The contribution will be collected by me and delivered to the church before the end of this year. This is, therefore, a clarion call to all my colleagues within the football fraternity desirous of making a token contribution of a minimum of one thousand Naira. Every contribution will be documented, accounted for and presented to the church in Ibadan. Emmanuel Okala who came all the way from Enugu at his own expense to honour Best set the ball rolling by contributing five thousand Naira before he went back. Best’s ‘wish’ will be done. Interested persons can reach me via text only on 08027246277.

On behalf of Shade, Yejide and Gloria Ogedegbe, the wife and daughters of Best Ogedegbe, MON, this is to thank the Governors of Rivers, Lagos, Oyo, Ekiti State and Ondo States, the various publications that carried the burial and interment notices gratis, Bishop Felix Ajakaye of the Ekiti Diocese of the Catholic Church, Chairman and Director-General of the National Sports Commission, President and Board of the Nigeria Football Federation, Commissioner of Police Oyo State, President of NANF, Shooting Stars FC, Gateway FC and Sharks FC, plus several organisations and individuals whose goodwill messages, financial and material support and contributions made the event truly befitting!