Shaibu Mourns Ex-Golden Eaglets Coach Brodericks-Imasuen

The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has mourned the passing of veteran footballer and coach Sebastian Brodericks-Imasuen.

The deceased was Nigeria’s first World Cup-winning coach, who led the Golden Eaglets to win the inaugural Kodak-FIFA U-17 Championship in 1985, hosted by China.

PUNCH Online reports that Coach Sebastian Brodericks-Imasuen died at the age of 85 years at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital after a long battle with stroke.

In his condolence message, the sports-loving Deputy Governor said, “It is with rude shock that I received news of the passing of Sebastian Brodericks-Imasuen.

“He was a celebrated sportsman and a seasoned coach, who took Nigeria football to the global stage when he won for our great country, the first-ever FIFA U – 17 World Cup, hosted by China in 1985.

“It is on record that the historic feat achieved by this Edo-born football czar brought about a spectacular revolution in youth football in Nigeria and across the continent of Africa.

“For me, his demise is certainly not in vain, having carved a niche for himself and left behind, indelible footprints in the sands of time as a world-class celebrity in the round leather game”

“I commiserate with the Nigerian football family, particularly the bereaved family members, friends and associates over the loss of an iconic footballer”.

“May his gentle soul rest peacefully in the bosom of the Almighty Creator,” Shaibu added.

The late coach was one of the football players who represented Nigeria at the Mexico Olympic Games in 1968 and famously scored from a free kick to win the then Challenge Cup for Bendel Insurance in 1972.

As a coach, he was the head of a three-man crew that included Bala Shamaki and Christian Chukwu when the Nigerian team won the maiden FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1985 in China.