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The national stadium, Surulere was agog with fans and
well-wishers on Thursday as the body of the late Super Eagles and Skoda Xanthi
defender, Olubayo Adefemi was laid to rest.

On hand to pay their last respects were Super Eagles coach,
Samson Siasia; former Nigerian goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu; Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF) technical director Chris Green, family members, journalists,
and fans.

The day, which began with a lying-in-state at the national
stadium saw representatives from the NFF, sportswriters and fans pouring
encomiums on the late Adefemi.

Speaking on the loss, Siasia exclaimed that it was sad to lose a
player that young, stating that a promising career had been cut short by fate.

For his part, Yomi Opakunle, a journalist described the defender
as somebody who was God-fearing.

“He did not speak two sentences without acknowledging God,”
Opakunle said. “He was so humble and respectful.”

From the stadium to the
grave

From the national stadium, all roads led to the Atan Cemetery
where a brief ceremony was held.

Speaking at the graveside, Adesanya Adewara of the Celestial
Church of Christ, while delivering a sermon, admonished the crowd to examine
their lives.

“There is time for everything and I tell you, one day, each and
every one of us is going to answer the call, but the only thing that would
speak for us is the impact we have had on people,” he said.

He added: “Though Adefemi’s life was short, it was a life well
spent because of what we have heard about him.” He thereafter enjoined his well
wishers not to forget him and the legacies he was trying to leave behind.

Teammates speak

Some of his teammates also expressed sorrow at his demise. Yinka
Adedeji, Adefemi’s long-time friend, who also played alongside the late player
in the Flying Eagles, as well as in the Olympic team, explained that Adefemi’s
demise would leave a gap in his heart.

“The extent of love, which we have for each other as a team and
as individuals is great and we are going to miss him,” he said.

“To me, Olubayo was more than a friend, he is a brother. We have
been very close; we are just like five and six.

“I have so many memories of him and one thing is that he would
be remembered forever. His memory would forever linger in my heart,” Adedeji
concluded.

Goalkeeper for the team that won silver in the U-20 World Cup in
2005, Ambrose Vanzekin, explained that it still unbelievable to him that his
former teammate is no more.

“For me, he is a brother, he is a friend and we have been
together in the national team for a long time,” said Vanzekin.

“The first time I heard about it, I could not believe my ears
because it was like a dream. I could not go to train that morning. The way I am
now, I have not been myself since I heard the news.

“I have not been able to play games; I told my coach that I was
not psychologically fit. He was a brother to us, we started the whole thing and
it is so sad when you see one of your numbers gone. I pray God would help his
family to be able to bear the loss.”

Vanzekin also spoke about the one recurring memory he has of the
late defender.

“Every time he scored a goal, he had a special way of
celebrating it. He would act like he was riding a boat and this is what I
continue to see when I think about him and that is one memory I would never
forget of him.”

Adefemi is survived by an aged mother, sisters, brother, nephews and nieces.