Sports veterans mourn Okoya Thomas

THE death of Chief Molade Okoya –Thomas is still sending shock waves within Nigeria’s sporting fraternity.

The latest body to react to the sudden death of the extraordinary sports philanthropist is the Association of Sports Veterans Nigeria (ASVN), led by Chief Jonathan Ogufere.

  The former President of the West African Football Union (WAFU) and board member of the Nigeria Football Association said in a press release Monday that his association is still in shock “…over the death of our patron. I will be lying to you if I say we have come to terms with the reality of his death. No we have not.” 

  According to Ogufere, “at the last Asoju Oba Cup, the 47th in the series, the Veterans as usual were given a pride of place and we did not for a second have any inkling that that was the last we will see of him. He was a unique Nigerian, detribalised, selfless and a born philanthropist, who used God’s blessing to enrich mankind.

  “At the youthful age of 32 he established the Asoju Oba Annual Table Tennis Tournament, as the sole financier and sponsor, one that ran uninterrupted for 47 years as his own contribution “ ….to creatively engage the youth”. Today the competition is the longest running in Africa and one of its kind in the world.

  “There is no table tennis player in this country today that has not stepped on the Asoju Oba to stardom.

  “It is instructive that he has always seized every opportunity to say that the event will outlive him.

  “ As Veterans, as our Patron, we mourn him. We wish we had more like him, men and women who will dedicate their life to the selfless upliftment of their passion and belief. We only wish that his family will keep his life time dream alive.”