Google pays tribute to Yekini @ 60, Kwara fails to rename stadium

Google Doodle, on Monday, honoured the 60th birthday of Rashidi Yekini, legendary Nigerian footballer and one of Africa’s greatest athlete, nicknamed the Goalsfather and renowned for his goal-scoring prowess.

Born on October 23, 1963, in Kaduna State, Yekini’s journey from a challenging early life marked by homelessness and poverty to football stardom was celebrated by the search engine giant.

But while the world commemorated the 60th posthumous birthday of Yekini, it brought to the fore the unfulfilled promises to immortalise “the Goalsfather”, which has continued to be a source of disappointment to many football lovers in the country.

Recall that both the former and current governors of Kwara State, Yekini’s hometown, had failed to honour their commitment to name a stadium in Ilorin after one of the state’s most distinguished sons.

Yekini passed away in May 2012, just one year after Abdulfatah Ahmed assumed the role of Kwara governor.

While Abdulfatah did not fulfill his pledge during his two terms in office, his successor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, raised hopes in 2020 by announcing plans to immortalise Yekini by naming a stadium after the football legend.

Governor AbdulRazaq made this announcement during a meeting with the former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, in Abuja.