Former colleagues to play novelty match for Amodu, Keshi

• Friends hold memorial service in South Africa

All is now set for the 40th Day Fidau prayer for the late former Super Eagles Coach, Amodu Shaibu, which will be preceded by a novelty match for the late coach and his former colleague, the late Stephen Keshi.

Speaking to sports Journalists in Benin yesterday, Edo State Football Association Chairman, Frank Ilaboya, said arrangements were on for some former internationals, coaches and journalists to play a novelty match today in honour of the former BBC Lion of Gboko tactician.

He said the state’s Commissioner for Sports, Presley Ediagbonya, who is the Chairman, Planning Committee for the Amodu Shaibu 40 days Fidau prayer, “is in Edo Government House perfecting all arrangements.”

Meanwhile, the traditional council of Illah town in Delta State, the home of late Stephen Keshi, yesterday announced the beginning of traditional rites for the Super Eagles’ former coach, who was a chief in the community before he died.The Guardian gathered that the remains of the late Keshi would be received at the Obi’s palace for a brief rites before the interment.

The burial activities and ceremonies are expected to begin on Thursday, July 28 when the body would leave the Morgue by 7:00am for a requiem mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Airport Road Benin City and thereafter lie in State at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, where there would be a novelty match and tributes for the late Keshi.

The body would later leave same day for Asaba, Delta State and be received at the boundary between Delta and Edo by Delta State government, who will coordinate the burial with members of the Illah community.

In South Africa, a group known as Friends of Stephen Keshi, has disclosed that they would hold a memorial service for the 2013 African Nations Cup winning coach on July 23 in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.

Former Nigerian goalkeeper, Peterside Idah, who is the spokesman of the ‘Friends of Keshi,’ told Supersport.com, “we are determined to honour Keshi to provide a platform for fans, Nigerians and other Legends, who cannot make the trip to the state Funeral in Nigeria, an opportunity to honour the Big Boss.

“Keshi won the Afcon 2013 here in South Africa and has a lot of friends and fans here.“ We are in touch with Neil Tovey, Kalusha Bwalya and a host of Legends, who will grace and speak at the service.”

Peterside also provided details of the venue and time, noting that the memorial service will take place at 10.00 a.m. at the Christ Ambassadors Church in Kempton Park. “The venue is directly opposite the Kempton Park Civic Centre, 1, Cnr C.R. Swart and Pretoria Road in Kempton Park,” he said.