By Matthew Mahmood
CAF president Issa Hayatou said: 'I remember him well – he was a solid attacker – it was so difficult to take the ball from him.
—Daily Mail
Rashidi Yekini (23 October 1963 – 4 May 2012)
Rashidi Yekini, 48, was a famous Nigerian footballer and international striker. He died on Friday and was buried on Saturday, in accordance to Islamic rites in his hometown at Irra, Kwara State, Nigeria. He played for Abiola Babes, IICC Shooting Stars, Super Eagles, ‘Portuguese side Vitoria Setubal, Greek giants Olympiacos and Spanish team Sporting Gijon.’ He also played for FC Zürich (Switzerland), among others. He may be remembered as the footballer who scored the first goal for Nigeria in a World Cup tournament. He was also the first Nigerian footballer to win the African Footballer of the Year in 1993.
Last year, online and press reports strongly suggested that Yekini was depressed or mentally ill. Should people have 'certified' Yekini as a 'madman' and did he undergo a psychiatric test? According to some people in his area, he was not mentally ill although he lived a secluded life. He was friendly and was also a silent philanthropist, who gave the widows in his neighbourhood money on a monthly basis.
Yekini allegedly invested most of his money in a Bureau de Change at Sabo suburb in Ibadan, Oyo State of Nigeria, which was controlled by his childhood friend Ibraheem. Unfortunately for Ibraheem, armed robbers reportedly robbed him and stole a lot of money.
Yekini became depressed after the alleged death of Ibraheem and probably went bankrupt. He was seen barefooted on the streets and people realised that something was wrong with him. A member of his family said that he kept to himself and refused the monetary assistance of some people in high places while his mental health deteriorated.
According to the BBC, “Two years ago he rejected the chance to be a Nigerian football ambassador to the 2010 World Cup, a move which was never explained.” Yekini’s mum has revealed that 2010 was the year that he began to suffer from a mental illness.
According to the Sunday Sun, Yekini who is survived by wives and children probably became depressed after 'a failed affair':
… he was agile and healthy until the last Easter Monday, when his mother and two siblings simply identified as Wasiu and Sekinat in company with two Alfas (marabouts) took him away by force.
“He didn’t want to go with them, so they leg-chained him. He was bleeding. It was obvious he struggled with them. You know he was a tall and heavily built man. He just arrived from Liberty Stadium, where he did his regular work outs, when they came. Apparently they did not know that anybody saw them. He asked us to call the police.”
Sadly, he reportedly died in a herbal home last Friday.:rip: .png)
