Stakeholder in Nigeria football circle are soliciting for help to rescue the situation of former captain of Shooting Stars FC of Ibadan, Friday Christopher, as he is reported to have lost his sight.
Christopher captained the Ibadan warriors to win the 1992 CAF Cup.
According to an online media report, the former NIgeria International star defender since few years ago has been battling with this predicament, as he continues to try all means that could enable him to see again but to no avail.
Popularly known as ‘Ekutu’ by his teammates and admirers, Christopher remained one of the unsung heroes of Nigerian football given his exploits.
A source close to the former defender told The Guardian on Friday that some concerned supporters of Shooting Stars FC and others are making frantic efforts to raise money for his upkeep.
“Friday Christopher needs us much now, and let’s rally round and support him, no amount will be too small,” one online report stated on Friday.
Christopher was among the key players who made Nigerian Professional League and FA Challenge Cup thick in the 1980s through 1990s starting from his grassroots team Ewekoro Rocks FC in the early eighties.
He had a romance with the defunct Abiola Babes FC Abeokuta before moving to Shooting Stars FC of Ibadan, which he led to capture the maiden CAF Cup in 1992 under the leadership of the late Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi with the late military Governor Abdulkareem Adisa as head of affairs in Oyo State.
Christopher later had stints with Iwuanyanwu Nationale of Owerri, BCC Lions Gboko, Katsina United and Calabar Rovers.
On his exit from active soccer, he veered into coaching and handled Sharks FC Port Harcourt, 3SC Ibadan, FC Abuja, Gray FC, Delta Force, Gateway FC Abeokuta, Giwa FC Jos, and Kano Pillars FC at different times.
It was Kano Pillars FC that released him for a whole season to attend his medical challenge and was being paid his salary and other entitlements every month. What he has been doing before can no longer be done without the support of another person.
