NFF, Insurance, Delta Force mourn late Ogbeide

The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed deep shock over the death on Monday of Head Coach of Nigeria Professional Football League club, Lobi Stars of Makurdi, Solomon Ogbeide.

“We are heartbroken about the death of Coach Solomon Ogbeide. Words are inadequate to describe the sense of loss. There was no doubt that he was among the very best in the country and even on the African continent, having led Lobi Stars to the group stage of this year’s CAF Champions League competition.

“Our hearts go out to Lobi Stars Football Club and its management and staff, the Nigeria Football Coaches Association and the immediate family of Coach Ogbeide,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said on Tuesday in statement made available to Blueprint sport.

Also, former clubs of the late Solomon Ogbeide  have paid glowing tributes to the tactician.

Ogbeide, who guided Lobi Stars to the 2019 Confederation Cup, reportedly slumped on Monday and later passed on.

In a condolence message signed by Secretary to Bendel Insurance FC, Charles Ihimekpen, the club lamented the demise of Ogbeide.

The message read in part: “The management, coaching crew, players and the entire Bendel Insurance family mourn their former coach and Technical Manager of Lobi Stars of Makurdi, late Solomon Ogbeide whose death was announced yesterday (Monday).

“The news of Coach Ogbeide’s sudden death came to us yesterday as a rude shock as there was no prior information about his ill health.

“The demise of Coach Solomon Ogbeide no doubt is a colossal loss to Edo football family and Nigeria football in general.

“The history of Bendel Insurance will be not be complete without mentioning late Coach Solomon Ogbeide.

“He was one of Edo born soccer tacticians whose style and touch on Insurance and other clubs in Nigeria top flight football will always be remembered.

“We can recall how he managed our darling team at various points with discipline and dedication as his guiding principle.

“Late Ogbeide’s tactical knowhow was recently proven again when he won the 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title with Lobi Stars and led them to the group stage of this season’s CAF Champions’ League.

“The management of Bendel Insurance FC, by this statement, sympathizes and condoles with the bereaved family, friends and his present club, Lobi stars. We pray that God gives them the fortitude to bear the huge loss.”

Also, Delta Force have sent their condolences. In a statement by Moses Etu, the club’s Chief Executive Officer,  Delta Force described the death of Ogbeide as a colossal loss to Nigeria football.

The statement notes that the late Coach Ogbeide was one of the pioneer personnel who started laying the bricks of the glorious days of the club in Nigeria top-flight football.

It further remarked that the club will always recall with fond memory, how the late Edo State born tactician piloted the Seasiders to the final of the 2013 Federation Cup against Enyimba.

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