RECENTLY Joe Erico, one of the country’s finest and most celebrated goalkeepers passed on at the age of 71, after complaining of body pains for three days and failing to wake up following treatments at a hospital.
HIS death expectedly earned presidential condolence, President Muhammadu Buhari commiserated with Erico’s family and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the death of the famed goalkeeper, saying he was saddened over the development.
Commiserating with the family of the legendary player and tactician, the president had averred that the nation will forever remember Erico for his tireless devotion to duty and ensuring victory for Nigeria when it mattered most in football.
SIMILARLY, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, said Erico’s demise was a huge blow to the football sector.
IN a related condolence, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, said Erico’s death was sad for Nigeria football, as he was among the very best of Nigeria’s international goalkeepers.
THE Hope also commiserates with Erico’s family and stakeholders of Nigeria’s football over the death of the former goalkeeper, as he represented the very best in the firmament of sports in the country.
AS the goalkeeper of the former ECN (later NEPA Football Club) in the late sixties and early seventies, Erico commanded national attention for exploits between the posts, earning him as much recognition as the revered Emmanuel Okala and Eyo Essien.
POPULARLY referred to as ‘Jogo Bonito’ during his football days, Erico was the nation’s first choice goalkeeper at the 1976 African Cup of Nations tournament in Ethiopia, where the national team won a bronze medal.
AS an indigenous coach of the nation’s football team, Erico – alongside Amodu Shuaibu and Stephen Keshi – led Nigeria to qualification for the World Cup in 2002, but the trio were fired before the trip to Korea and Japan, following a spat with the authorities.
TO show his diligence with his duties, the former coach led the national team to another bronze finish at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations final in Mali early 2002.
In another demonstration of his ability as a coach, Erico was part of the national team that qualified for the 1980 Olympic Games but couldn’t attend following a boycott by the nation.
ERICO’s death was unfortunate, because he was a great goalkeeper who stood high among his peers, acting as a mentor to successive national goalkeepers such as late Rigogo Ike Shorunmu, Peter Rufai, Vincent Enyeama and others.
IN a demonstration of his devotion to the service of his fatherland, he was a great tactician who perfected game plans that led to the defeat of the nation’s football rivals on the pitch of play.
WITH his demise, members of the historic triumvirate of Nigerian coaches – Keshi, Shuaibu, and Erico – have now passed on.
WE not only commiserate with Erico’s family but we endorse the idea of celebrating a national icon whose wealth of experience and fervid love of the nation will be sadly missed.
HAVING said this, we are not unaware of the fact that Erico never got his full reward for the part he played at Mali 2002 Nations Cup and the qualification to the World Cup in Korea/Japan, as some of the promises made to him for earning victories for the nation have not been met.
WE call on those concerned to expedite action on ensuring that the former goalkeeper’s family enjoys the fruit of his labour.
MUCH more than this, sports authorities should not wait for the demise of the nation’s heroes before giving them their due.
THE federal government should not only pay their entitlements but initiate packages to encourage the nation’s footballers so they can serve the nation with fervor and diligence.
THE NFF should ensure football is structured in such a manner that heroic footballers like Erico are catered for in their hours of need so they are not made to look pitiable in the eyes of Nigerians.