Tributes as legendary goalkeeper Fregene dies at 77
Tributes have poured in for late national team goalkeeper, Peter Fregene who died aged 77 after a protracted illness almost at midnight on Sunday .
Fondly called Apo and regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation, Fregene had been critically ill and was reportedly life support over the last few days, died in the presence of his two children and devoted wife, Tina at Oghara Teaching Hospital in Delta State.
His passage was announced by his former teammate , Mathematical Segun Odegbami who has been rallying kind hearted Nigerians for financial assistance for the deceased.
“And the Man died, “ he wrote in a viral post.
“A few minutes ago, Peter ‘Apo’ Fregene, OLY, former goalkeeper for Nigeria’s Green Eagles, who has been on life-support for the past one week, passed on to meet his Creator.
“He died quietly in the presence of two of his children and his devoted wife, Tina.
“On behalf of all generations of Nigerian footballers, Olympians, sports persons, his family, friends, fans and a few incredible Nigerians that quietly rallied round and, with their support, prayers and the will of the Creator of the Universe, kept him alive until this night, I say a big ‘thank you’.
“Good night ‘Apo’.
Fregene who was Nigeria’ first choice goalkeeper between 1968 to 1971 and also represented the country at the 1982AFCON and 1968 Olympics , has been described as one of the best goalkeepers ever produced by Nigeria.
“I think Apo has finally gone to rest,” veteran journalist, Pa Segun Adenuga told NationSport. “Unarguably, he was one of Nigeria’s greatest goalkeeper in history and he was in goal for almost two decades for the national team.
“ He was in goal when we played 3-3 draw with Brazil at the 1968 Olympics and he was rated as the fourth best goalkeeper in the whole world and was described as the man with the magic hand.”
Nigerian Olympian hurdler Godwin Obasogie , described Fregene as a national hero.
“A great hero of our time,” Obasogie told NationSport from his base in the USA.
“My sincere condolences to the family. May God give the family the fortitude to bear the loss. Nigeria lost a great Sports Legend. Rest in Peace Great Olympian. Good night.”
Born 14th May 1949 in Sapele, Fregene star for Lagos rivals Electric Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) and Stationery Stores during a career that spanned the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He won the Nigerian FA Cup with both ECN and Stationery Stores.
He represented Nigeria at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City as well as the 1982 African Cup of Nations finals in Libya.
Comments
Post a Comment