Former IICC skipper and Eagles leftback Sam Ojebode passes away after succumbing to cancer

FORMER Nigerian defender and IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan skipper Sam Ojebode has passed away at the age of 68 at the University College Hospital after succumbing to a lengthy battle against cancer.

Ojebode, who made history in 1976 by becoming the first Nigerian captain to lift a continental trophy when he led IICC to victory in the African Cup Winners Cup competition was the country's first ever overlapping leftback. Also, the vice captain of the then Green Eagles, Ojebode was a pivotal member of the squad between 1974 and 1977 and also its designated penalty taker.

After retiring from playing, Ojebode went on to become a successful coach and was also a one-time chairman of IICC's board of directors.  Ojebode began his football career in 1960 and enlisted in the Nigerian Police Force where as a member of the squad he won a number of laurels and on April 1 1971, he then joined the Western Nigerian Development Corporation Shooting Stars (WNDC) which later became IICC.

Ojebode also played for the Ibadan Lions, which won the Nigerian Challenge Cup in 1969 by beating Warri Wolves 5-1 in the final. He was also a member of the WNDC Shooting Stars that won the 1971 Challenge Cup, defeating Enugu Rangers 2-1 in the final.

Dapo Adeshina, the Oyo State sports commissioner, said: “We are deeply touched that Chief Ojebode is gone, we actually tried all we could as the state has been footing his hospital bills since he first became ill last year. I can assure you that the Oyo State government will be there to support the family any way we can."

Ojebode retired from playing active football in September 1978 and started his coaching career by attending the National Institute of Sports in Lagos in 1979. He was also a member of Oyo State Sports Council, retiring voluntarily in 1999 as the deputy director of sports and training.