Odegbami Recalls the Day He Was Meant to Meet Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun
Former Green Eagles captain Segun Odegbami has shared the painful story of never meeting Nigerian football pioneer Teslim “Thunder” Balogun. Odegbami said they were both in Ibadan, where Balogun worked as a coach, and were expected to meet at Liberty Stadium before Housing Corporation faced Mighty Jets of Jos. But shortly before the match, players were told that Balogun had died in his sleep. Balogun, who died on July 30, 1972, aged 41, was one of Nigerian football’s greatest trailblazers. He was the first Nigerian to play professionally in England, became Africa’s first professionally qualified coach, and led Nigeria at the 1968 Olympic Games. The Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos was named in his honour.
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