SportsSegun Odegbami, Sports Minister Lead Tributes Following Death Of Former National Defender...

Segun Odegbami, Sports Minister Lead Tributes Following Death Of Former National Defender Jide Dina

BEVERLY HILLS, March 14, (THEWILL) – Once more the Nigeria sports community was thrown into another bout of mourning with the death of former Nigeria senior men’s national football team player, Jide Dina.

The late defender succumbed to the ravages of a protracted illness.

Dina may not be a household name in football circles especially among the younger generation today, yet he is remembered by those who witnessed his exploits for both club and country in his heydays as a bedrock of the backline of the men’s team.

One of these is a former teammate and legendary Super Eagles’ player, Segun Odegbami. On Saturday, Odegbami penned a glowing tribute to the hard-tackling defender, who was part of the Green Eagles squad that won a bronze medal at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Accra, Ghana in 1978.

In honour of his teammate, Odegbami wrote: “Not too many football fans would recall a Jide Dina and his exploits in Nigerian football. But I do, because we are of the same generation, and we both grew up in Jos. Whilst he attended St. John’s College, I was in St. Murumba College, and the two schools were staunch football rivals.

“We were both invited to the national team around the same period in the miď-1970s, he from Mighty Jets FC of Jos where he manned the central defense of that great team, and I from IICC Shooting Stars FC.

“Jide, surely, was a great player, a gentleman to the core, and a rock-solid defender in the mold of Ismaila Mabo who was his mentor and coach.”

Odegbami added: “I commiserate with his family as well as the entire Nigerian football family for the loss of yet another one of the country’s great sons and heroes.”

Among other tributes, the Honourable Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, in an official statement, described the death of Dina as painful while recalling how he watched the former Mighty Jets of Jos’ captain in action back in the day.

The Minister’s statement said: “So sad to learn about the death of Jide Dina whom I watched live in the colours of Mighty Jets and the Green Eagles. He was a great player, robust, rugged, possessed fierce shots and aerial power. My condolences to his family, may God bless his soul.”

Part of Dina’s career after his active playing days was spent as coach of domestic side Nasarawa United FC. The club Chairman, Barr. Isaac Danladi, also paid homage to the late defender: ” We at Nasarawa United FC are shocked to hear of the death of our former employee and former Nigerian international footballer.

“The late Jide Dina coached our team between 2006-2009 and propelled us to a third-place finish at the Federations Cup(formerly known as FA Cup) in his first spell.

“He spent the majority of his coaching career with the Solid Miners, and during those periods, brought a lot of transformations and successes to the Club.

“We pray that God gives them [his immediate family] the strength and courage to bear the irreplaceable loss, and grant the deceased eternal rest in heaven.”

This sad demise comes after the January death of Joe Erick, another member of the AFCON 78 team, who was the goalkeeper of that same bronze-winning team.

About the Author

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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.

Jude Obafemi, THEWILLhttps://thewillnews.com
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.

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