By FORMER Super Eagles defender, Efetobore Sodje, popularly known as “Bandana Man,” has paid a heartfelt tribute to legendary Nigerian football coach, Adewale Festus Onigbinde, following news of his passing.
Sodje described the late tactician as an iconic figure whose influence transcended Nigerian football and left an enduring legacy across Africa and the global football community.
In a moving message, the former international recalled how the respected coach, who also held the traditional title of High Chief in Modakeke, gave him an unexpected opportunity to represent Nigeria at a time when he was playing in the lower tiers of English football.
Onigbinde
According to Sodje, he was plying his trade with Crewe Alexandra in England when Onigbinde invited him to join the national team camp, despite many players in the English top flight struggling to secure a call-up.
The ex-defender said the opportunity changed the course of his career, noting that the coach’s belief in his ability paved the way for him to shine on the international stage.
He particularly credited Onigbinde for including him in Nigeria’s squad to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, a milestone he said helped place the Sodje family name on the global football map.
“I will forever remain grateful to the man who picked me from the lower league of English football, believed in my ability and entrusted me with the national team shirt on the biggest stage of world football,” Sodje said.
The former defender, who now holds coaching qualifications in England, described the late coach as more than a mentor, referring to him as a father figure who played a vital role in his professional journey.
He prayed for the peaceful repose of Onigbinde’s soul and expressed hope that the legendary coach’s legacy would continue to inspire future generations of footballers.
Sodje also expressed his aspiration to contribute to football development in Nigeria by working with one of the country’s national teams in the future.
