The Nigerian community in South Africa said they would miss former Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, who passed on in the early hours of Wednesday.
The President of Nigeria Union, South Africa, Ikechukwu Anyene spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) from Pretoria on telephone on Wednesday.
Anyene said the Nigerian community related well with Keshi when he was alive.
“Each time he led the Super Eagles to play in South Africa, we were at home with him. He was an easy going person and we enjoyed working with him,” he said.
Anyene described Keshi as a humble and patriotic Nigerian and we saw it each time he came for tournament in South Africa.
“The Nigerian Community in South Africa will surely miss him,” he said.
Adetola Olubayo, the Secretary of the union, said Keshi was a “hero” to many Nigerian players.
“ Nigerians living in South Africa will always remember Keshi for winning the African Nations tournament in 2013.
“He did the nation proud and I am proud to have associated with him during the tournament. We will surely miss him. A very fine gentle man, I must say,” he said.
Eric Okoye, the chairman of the union in Free State Province, said Nigerians resident in that part of South Africa had a good time with the Super Eagles when Keshi led them there for a match.
“Keshi received us when we visited the team at Bloemfontein. We are shocked to hear that he has passed on. It still sounds unbelievable but we thank God for the good life he lived,” he said.
Aigbonohan Moses, the chairman of the Union in Western Cape Province, said Keshi did the country proud during the CHAN tournament in 2014.
“Nigeria played in Cape Town, same group with host South Africa. We won that match and we celebrated the victory.
“Nigerians in Cape town are still in mourning mood since we received the news of Keshi`s death.
“We urge the Federal Government to immortalise him because of his contributions to football in the country,” he said. (NAN)
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