Untold Story of Onigbinde: How the national hero lived with disappointments till his death

2026-03-16 - 05:46

*Son opens up on father’s last moment says *How he discovered goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama By Adeola Badru It stands there, a two-storey building on a quiet street in the Felele area of Ibadan, Oyo State, bearing the weight of silence. The home, where the late Adegboye Onigbinde lived with his family until his relocation to Osun State last December, now speaks volume, not in echoes of celebration, but in the quiet language of loss. Icon’s decline The entire street seemed deserted on the day Vanguard visited, as though the very environment had joined the grieving for a man many Nigerians had hailed as a national hero, yet who, in a cruel twist of fate, died an unsung hero in his own land. There were no crowds of sympathisers thronging the entrance, no sea of vehicles, none of the fanfare that often accompanies the passing of a public figure. The only information offered was that a former footballer, Felix Owolabi, had visited a day before. The stillness was profound, a fitting, if somber, tribute to a man whose life was defined by quiet dignity. Standing before the Onigbinde home, you’re struck by how modest, even neglected, the property appeared. Faded walls bore the weight of years without proper maintenance; the gate sagged slightly on its hinges, and the courtyard, though tidy, seemed subdued and quiet, far from the grandeur often associated with national heroes. Inside, the rooms were simple and functional, adorned only with modest family photographs and a few mementos, nothing to reflect the decades of service he gave to Nigerian and African football. The furniture, though well-kept, was plain; the air carried a sense of calm austerity rather than pomp. It was a residence that spoke volumes about Onigbinde himself: a man whom many described as one who valued substance over show, integrity over display, and service over self-aggrandisement. Yet the stark contrast between his illustrious past and humble present is a sobering reminder that even the most celebrated individuals can fade into quiet anonymity. As tributes pour in, Nigerians are left to ponder the fleeting nature of fame and the importance of honouring those who have made a lasting impact. Life of quiet dignity In the history of Nigerian football, few figures carried themselves with the quiet dignity and restraint that defined the late Adegboye Onigbinde. To the public, he was the disciplined tactician who once guided the Super Eagles during one of the most delicate moments in the nation’s football history. To colleagues within international football circles, he was a respected administrator whose experience stretched across continents. But behind the honour of national recognition and decades of service to the sport was a life that often unfolded far from the applause that accompanies public achievement. Throughout his long career, Onigbinde remained known for his uncompromising professionalism. Those who worked closely with him described a man who valued discipline, fairness and knowledge above personal connections or political manoeuvring, qualities that earned him respect internationally but sometimes placed him at odds with the realities of Nigerian sports administration. Even in retirement, he remained deeply concerned about the direction of Nigerian football. He believed passionately that the country possessed the talent to compete with the world’s best, but he also understood that talent alone could not overcome structural weaknesses. Friends say he carried those concerns with him for years, hoping the reforms he advocated would one day take root. Yet the story of his life was not only one of professional dedication; it was also a story of human warmth. Away from football meetings and stadium touchlines, Onigbinde was known in Ibadan as a mentor to young people, a calm counsellor to friends and a father figure to many who sought his advice. Ironically, his connection to the city became so strong that many residents believed he was an indigene of Oyo State, even though his origins lay in neighbouring Osun State. His home in Ibadan was a place of warmth and wisdom, where young people gathered to seek his advice and learn from his experiences. Yet for his family, the more intimate truth is that of a principled man who carried the quiet burden of disappointments, having given his best to a system that seldom rewarded integrity. To those who knew him best, his calmness was perhaps his most enduring quality. In moments of tension, whether on the football pitch or within the walls of his home, he rarely raised his voice. Instead, his circle of friends said he listened, weighing his words carefully before offering guidance. It was this same composure that accompanied him in his final days. Daddy was a perfect gentleman’ — Son In an exclusive interview with Vanguard, Kunle Onigbinde, the last son of the late football icon, opened up about the father the world rarely saw. With a quiet voice, he began not with tales of trophies or tactics, but with a simple, powerful truth. “My father was a great man while he was alive,” Kunle said. “Everybody who knew him would describe him as a perfect gentleman. In whatever he did, he always gave his best. He was respected not only in Nigeria but also internationally. He worked with both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA. In fact, he served with CAF for over 16 years. Because of his involvement with the Nigerian national team and international football bodies, his name was well known beyond Nigeria.” But for Kunle, the global recognition, while a source of pride, never overshadowed the man at home. When asked if his father’s public persona matched the private reality, he nodded without hesitation. “Yes, very much so. He took good care of his children and also extended that care to members of the extended family. He showed love to everyone around him. Even young people on the streets, he would call them, advise them, and encourage them. He was someone who genuinely cared about people.” As the conversation turned to what the family would miss most, Kunle paused, searching for the right words to capture an essence. “So many things. His experience, intelligence, kindness,everything,” he reflected. “One thing about my father was that he never panicked. Whenever you came to him with a problem, he would calmly listen and talk to you. By the time you left his presence, you would feel relieved and the problem would seem solved. That calmness and wisdom were special qualities about him. He was a very composed person who handled issues with patience and maturity.” He spoke not only of the father he lost but of the coach whose dreams for Nigerian football remained largely unfulfilled. With a mixture of pride and regret, he shared his thoughts on legacy, integrity, and the painful final moments they shared. Kunle expressed a quiet hope that the nation might finally honour his father’s contributions in a tangible way. “We would appreciate it if Nigeria, especially within the football community, could find a way to immortalise him,” he said. “Of course, he has already left behind a great legacy, but recognition would be meaningful. Perhaps something like naming a stadium or a sports facility after him, similar to how other national sports icons have been honoured. Ultimately, it is up to the authorities to decide what is appropriate, but it would be good to see his contributions recognised.” Reflecting on his father’s most high-profile assignment, the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Kunle painted a vivid picture of a man working against the clock but armed with decades of experience. “Nigerian football has had some fundamental problems for many years. But when my father got the job, he approached it with experience and confidence. He had gained exposure from working with FIFA and CAF, and he had travelled widely, including to Brazil, to study coaching methods. He brought all that experience to the Nigerian national team. Even though he had only about three months to prepare the team before the World Cup, he was able to stabilise the squad and manage the situation effectively. His experience helped him organise the team properly within that short time.” The contract “In Nigeria, unfortunately, the system sometimes works based on ‘who you know’ rather than ‘what you know.’ My father was not the kind of person who would flatter people or engage in unnecessary praise just to gain favour. He believed in doing his work with integrity. Some people in positions of authority expect that kind of behaviour, but my father never believed in it. He focused on professionalism and honesty. That is part of the reason why he may not have received the recognition many people felt he deserved. “Yes, he was a disciplinarian and a principled man. But that sometimes created misunderstandings. In Nigeria, some people prefer to manipulate situations, but my father would never allow that. He believed in doing things properly and professionally. That strict adherence to principles sometimes made people misunderstand him. “He had a big dream for Nigerian football. He wanted Nigeria to compete at the same level as the top football nations in the world. He believed Nigeria had the talent and the potential to reach that level. But unfortunately, many of the structural changes he wanted were not fully implemented. If he had been given more freedom to implement his ideas, many of those dreams could have been achieved.” One of those dreams, according to him, was a firm belief in home-grown talents, a philosophy that yielded one of Nigeria’s greatest goalkeepers. “Shortly after he was appointed Super Eagles coach ahead of the 2002 World Cup, he began scouting for talents locally. During a match between Enyimba and Julius Berger in Abeokuta, he discovered Vincent Enyeama. Enyeama later became one of Nigeria’s greatest goalkeepers and served the national team for nearly a decade. My father believed strongly in developing local talents. “My father believed Nigeria had abundant local talent. He supported the development of home-based players. He also organised coaching courses in collaboration with CAF to help Nigerian coaches gain more knowledge and exposure. His focus was always on developing local capacity rather than depending too much on foreign expertise.” His last moments As the interview turned to the subject of his father’s passing, Kunle’s voice grew heavier, the weight of memory pressing down. “In his final hours, it was clear he was struggling with the reality of leaving his loved ones behind. He wanted to speak, but he could not. You could see the emotions in his eyes. It was very painful for the family to witness. But we understand that this is the reality of life.” Providing details of those final days, a timeline that made the loss feel all the more sudden, he recounted: “He was 88 years old. He celebrated his birthday on March 5, but the family extended the celebration to March 7 so that everyone could be present. He passed away shortly after that. Before then, he was relatively stable except for some knee issues common with age. But on that Friday, his condition suddenly changed.” Vanguard News