Kunle ADELABU
The Ikorodu soccer family, on Friday, June 15, 2018, was again thrown into mourning mood following the death of another soccer star, Sodiq Somefun, who many have descibed as a player fantastic player.
It was gathered that Sodiq died after a brief illness.
Sodiq, who was popularly called ‘Makalele’ or ‘Origin’ because of his creative style of play as a midfielder, was the captain of the Excel Academy Football Club, a 174 Battalion based Club in Odogunyan, Ikorodu.
He recently led the Excel team to lift the inaugural Hon. Bayo Osinowo Gold Cup tournament tagged, ‘Lagos East Senatorial Unity Cup’.
The Ikorodu team defeated Sporting Loyal FC 2 goals to nil to win the championship at the final match played at Aromire Sports Centre, Lagos.
His team was also the 4th best at the recently concluded 10th Gafaar Bolowotan Memorial Gold Cup this year, where they were walked-over by Oga Boys FC after it was discovered that the team fielded six unregistered players.
While paying tributes to the late footballer, many players, fans, football supporters and administrators described his death as unfortunate while also regretting that his talent was wasted due to lack of support from the public for his soccer exploit.
Sodiq, during his lifetime, had also plied his soccer trade with the Ultimate Villa FC, Bolowotan FC and Teslim Thunder Balogun FC.
Ogunbunmi Abolore, the Ultimate Villa FC Coach who also trained late Sodiq during his playing days, while announcing the death on his Facebook page stated, “This is to inform everyone that one of the greatest players that our team has ever produced by name Shomefun Sadiq (a.k.a ‘Makalele’, ‘Origin’) , a product of Ultimate Villa Football Club, Bolowotan Football Club and Teslim Thunder Balogun FC and other great teams is dead”.
Dominic Ikwuagwu, the coach that discovered him in 1994, described him as a great talent and very committed player.
“I discovered Sodiq as a talented footballer closed to his home in Oke-Oriya in 1994 and nurtured him until 2001. He was not really regular in training because I persistently queried him why he loved to play barefooted and sometimes, with different pairs of boots. He was a great soccer talent and he will be greatly missed”, Dominic stated.
Kabir Oluwatobi Baoku, the Secretary General, Ikorodu Division Referee Council, in his own comment, simply stated, “Very sad news. May his soul rest in peace”.
Alhaji Kola Akinsanya, the President, Grassroots Sports Development Forum and a Safety Ambassador, in his own reaction over the death of Sodiq, stated that, “So sad that he has gone so soon. He was a great football player. The one I called magician in his days.May his soul rest in peace”.
