Kelechi Emeteole

Kelechi Emeteole (1951 – 21 June 2017) was a Nigerian football player and coach. He was part of the national football team in the 1976 African Cup of Nations hosted at Ethiopia. Throughout his career, he had been coach of various teams like Heartland F.C., Enugu Rangers, El-Kanemi Warriors F.C. and the national beach soccer team.[1]

Career

Emeteole had played 17 matches for Nigeria scoring 4 goals from 1975 to 1977. He was part of the national football team, called Super Eagles, in the 1976 African Cup of Nations where Nigerian won bronze medal.[2] He was popularly called as 'Caterpillar' for his "rugged defensive style".[3]

As coach

Emeteole was assistant coach of the Super Eagles team and head coach of the Heartland F.C., Enugu Rangers, El-Kanemi Warriors F.C. and the national beach soccer team.[3] He coached the beach soccer team, known as Super Sand Eagles from 2007 to 2009. While he was coach of the Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now called Heartland FC) in 2009, the team reached the CAF Champions League finals.[2] In April 2017, angry mob had attacked Emeteole, who was then coach of the team Enugu Rangers, after they had lost a match.[4] He was sacked as coach in May 2015 where he was in charge for three months.[5] He was hired as coach by El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in August 2015.[6]

Health issues and death

Emeteole reported loss of voice after the last match between El Kanemi Warriors and Heartland Football Club of Owerri in December 2015. He had faced similar issues before. In January 2016 the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri conducted biopsy but diagnosed it to be infection. In October 2016 he was diagnosed of throat cancer at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.[7] For his treatment in India, he reportedly needed US$ 11,000. He received financial helps from the Nigeria Soccer Federation-United States of America (NSF-USA), Imo Foundation, Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo, and politician Ugonna Ozurigbo for his treatment.[8][9][10][11]

Emeteole had been in India for the surgery but died on 21 June 2017 at the hospital in New Delhi at the age of 66 while still being under treatment. He had developed complications in breathing and is survived by his wife Lolo Emeteole.[1][12]

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References
  1. "Tributes flood in after Kelechi Emeteole dies in India". Punch. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  2. "Christian Chukwu describes late Emeteole as "image of everything football"". Vanguard. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  3. George Akpayen (21 June 2017). "Nigeria mourns as Emeteole dies". SuperSport. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  4. "Rangers coach escapes mob attack after loss". Vanguard. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  5. Samuel Ahmadu (28 May 2015). "Enugu Rangers sack coach Kelechi Emeteole". Goal. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  6. "El-Kanemi appoints Kelechi Emeteole as new coach". Premium Times. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  7. Chidi Nkwopara (7 March 2017). "Kelechi Emeteole battles life". Vanguard. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  8. Samuel Ifetoye (23 March 2017). "NSF-USA donates $1,320 to ailing Coach Kelechi Emeteole". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  9. "Super Eagles star Kenneth Omeruo donates to save sick Coach, Kelechi Emeteole". AOI Football. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  10. "Imo Foundation Lifeline for Emeteole". 13 March 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  11. Ben Alozie (8 March 2017). "Omeruo's N2m inspires more donations to save Coach Emeteole". Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  12. Ibitoye Shittu (21 June 2017). "Legendary Nigerian coach Kelechi Emeteole dies in India". Naij. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
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