In a rare encounter with the late Rashidi Yekini, iwitnesslive.com, David Kabiyesi reveal some personal confessions from goals father one year before his death in this THROWBACK
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The first time I saw this towering striker was at the bumpy and all-brown Railway football field in Ibadan back then in the 80s. The pitch was only suitable for sowing legumes and you can be rest assured of getting a bountiful harvest. But gangling Yekini trained there in the company of his childhood friend, Ibraheem. Unruffled by the size and topography of the field, Yekini would beg for passes and when faced with the goalkeeper, the player between the stick will take his heels trying to avoid his ballistic shots, but surprisingly, Yekini will just tap in. He was human and he doesn’t want to hurt anyone.
Sadly, his soul was hurt two decades later when he sunk into acute depression following the death of Ibraheem, the man who managed his entire business empire. Ibrahim went down six feet below with Yekini’s entire life fortune not because he embezzled them but because he was a friend better than a brother and Ibraheem was trusted beyond any doubt that Yekini never asked a question about all the investment in his care as long as he delivers returns on monthly basis.
Yekini’s life took a turn for the worse after the custodian of his fortune bid farewell to mother earth. Back to his cocoons, the goals king would stay back at home sulking and bitting his fingers asking why he failed to make inquiries.
The Exclusive interview we never had
It was during his last days that I bumped into him on yahoo messenger. I have been sending several messages telling him of my closeness to Keshi, John Shitu, and co but never got a single response. On May 4, 2011, to be precise, his Yahoo mail address: yekini443@yahoo.com bumped up in my messenger. Gmail and WhatsApp were not known at that time, yahoo messenger was the only means of reaching out.
Working as late Stephen Keshi errand boy, it was easy to get Yekini talking. While I was so curious about getting an exclusive interview, Yekini was more interested in business. He never prepared for life as a football agent but he needed to market a 20-years old half Brazilian- Nigerian youth prodigy named Gilberto Felix
“Do you know any agent? I mean football agent because you sound like someone who has done a deal before? he asked
He was happy with my response and said,” I really want to help this boy, but you have to be sure because I have a name to protect,” He quickly sent the players’ YouTube link. He now said something to shock me.
” I would have loved to meet Felix but I’m now in Saudi Arabia on a medical check-up.
” I don’t know why I’m telling you this but you’re lucky I’m letting you in. I don’t grant an interview but I may grant you the interview, perhaps it is time I come out of my shell.
” I have never met you but I think I can open up to you,” he replied on messenger. These chats are kept to date on messenger
Alas! The interview never came up because the last time I heard from him, he was calling from UAE where he went for another check-up. Gilberto Felix Deal died a natural death when Yekini gave up on life as acute depression set in. Not that he never tried to get healed but two heads they say, are better than one. He never spoke to me again until his death was announced on May 4, 2012.
N5m Endowment Fund That Got Missing
It’s been 11 odd years since he passed away, but the N5 million Endowment fund raised by Oyo State Sports Council never got to his family. As Yekini turns in his grave, he can take consolation in the emergence of another goal machine cloned in his likeness: hunger for goals, and that is Victor Osimhen.
Like Oliseh said, Yekini never asked for too much on the pitch, all he begged for is that Oliseh and Jay Jay dropped the pass ahead of him and he will deliver to goals. He did deliver but never opened up about his deep sufferings. Perhaps he would have been alive today. Rest on Yekini!
