Nigeria Content Online

The death on Monday of Super Eagles defender, Olubayo Adefemi, leaves me
numb.

When the news broke, I wished there had been a mistake somewhere. But I knew
I was only hoping against hope because the agency which flashed the news is an
internationally-respected organisation not given to frivolities.

Until he died, I did not have a relationship with him beyond our
interactions on a professional level. I had occasion to interact with him on
Facebook now and again. Unlike most of his colleagues in the Super Eagles, I
found him to be quite down-to-earth.

His humility was striking in the way he showed respect to both his seniors
and juniors. One of my colleagues has told of how Olubayo, upon seeing him in
Ghana during the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, prostrated before him in respect.
This colleague to whom he did this was not even 40 years old at the time.

Kasia Muotu, a former footballer now based in the United States where she
uses her non-governmental organisation, We Play to Win, to educate and empower
youngsters in America and Nigeria, said of Bayo upon learning of his death:
“May his soul rest in peace… The guy had a very solid run. What most got me
was his heart for others and his love for God. What a tragic loss to us, but a
wonderful gain in Heaven.” Later, when I asked her if she could do a little
tribute to the late football star, she said, “I’d be honoured to share my
thoughts on Bayo. Although our friendship was only over the last two years, his
impact and what he impressed on me was deep and resonated to the core. I can
say that of very few folks. I will get you something by Thursday, for sure.
It’s my pleasure to invest time into ensuring the success and longevity of
others with a heart for service and a heart for God. This applies to Bayo.” He
was that kind of person.

It is instructive to note that everyone who has commented on his death has
harped on this particular quality that he possessed in good measure. Yomi Kuku,
founder of Search and Groom, the organisation which, among other things,
prepares the team that represents Nigeria at the Homeless World Cup, related to
me the role Adefemi had been playing as an ambassador of the Homeless World
Cup. “Olubayo was special. He was a different kind of human being. Till he
died, I did not meet him but we spoke several times on the phone. As our
ambassador, he was willing to go to the ends of the earth to help us. He came
up with a lot of strategies to help us attract sponsorship for our team. On one
occasion he said to me, “Yomi, I know I am not as popular as Kanu or Okocha but
I will use all the connections I have to ensure that this thing works.” That
was the kind of person he was. We have really lost a special human being.”

A breath of fresh air

Apart from his humility, Adefemi was a patriot. He may not have had the
sublime skills of Austin Okocha or the velvety touch of Nwankwo Kanu, but he
more than made up for this in passion and commitment.

He loved his country and was prepared to do anything within his power to
play for it on any and every occasion. He often agonised when national team
handlers did not look in his direction but was always willing to work hard to
improve his game. This led him to change clubs a number of times in the last
two years. But he was undeterred; anything to make him get into the national
team was okay as long as it was legal. We are all going to miss him. His death
leaves us all diminished and it is going to take a while for us to come to
terms with it. At a time Nigerian footballers playing for the national team
acted like the entire country owed them just because they starred for the
national team, Adefemi represented a breath of fresh air.

Expectedly, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has joined millions of
Nigerians in condoling with his family. That is fitting and proper. Beyond
this, it should be willing to offer the late player’s family any assistance
with logistics it may need during preparations for his burial. May his soul
rest in peace.