Kunle Adelabu
Football administrators and players in Ikorodu have paid glowing tributes to the late assistant coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Joe Erico who passed away in the early hours oflast Thursday, January 21, 2021.He was 72 year-old.
THE IMPACT gathered that the late football coach was found dead in his bed.
He was said to have complained of body pains and was treated for malaria before his death.
Erico, who was born as Joseph Bassey Eric, was a former national team goalkeeper and also served as Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles when late Shuaib Amodu was the Head Coach.
For many years, he was the coach of the NEPA Egbin Football Club (later NEPA Abuja).
He camped his team in Ikorodu for three seasons while the NEPA Egbin FC was playing in the Premiership league before the team moved to Abuja.
While camping the team in Ikorodu for 1991 – 1992, 1992 – 1993 and 1994 – 1995 seasons, at the then famous Oriwu Merchant hotel and later, De Cubano hotel (both now defunct), Coach Erico inspired many boys in Ikorodu into playing and coaching and also nurtured them.
Alhaji Luqman Shonibare, Chairman, Ikorodu Divisional Football League (IDFA) and Community Development Committee (CDC), speaking with THE IMPACT said that the late Erico contributed immensely to the development of the round leather game in Ikorodu.
“Joe Erico has contributed to the development of football in Ikorodu. As the Coach of the defunct NEPA FC in the 80s, he brought the camp of the club to Ikorodu at Oriwu hotel along Ireshe road where he signed most of the indigenes, such as Yinka Dacosta, Fatai Bisiriyu Dagama, Bayo Jayeola, Adekunle Alapa and a host of others. Signing these players really helped the development of football in Ikorodu”, the IDFA Chairman said.
“His demise will create a lot of vacuum in the growth of football in Lagos and Nigeria. As a goalkeeper, he has trained most of the great goalkeepers in Nigeria. Experience is something you cannot buy, hence his wealth of experience will not be useful anymore. Adieu Jongobolito.”
Chief Yisa Orelesi, a former player, coach and chieftain of the IDFA who is popularly called ‘Railway’, described late Erico as his senior who developed many talents in Ikorodu, Lagos and nationally.
Coach Railway said that Erico’s contributions can never be forgotten.
“Joe Erico, “Jogo Bolito’, was my senior in 1975 when I was in the intermediate team in the second national festival and he was in the senior team with Peter Fregene. They called me Railway by then, that was my football name.
“Jogo Bolito was a fantastic coach. He was here with us in Ikorodu when he was taken coaching NEPA Egbin FC and he developed a lot of players in this country. We can never forget him. It is so sad that we lost him”.
He was concerned about the way and manner that the government treats national sports icon while alive and dead.
“His death is one of those things and many have equally gone, but it is a great loss to Nigeria football. Unfortunately, I don’t know what our governments are doing to assist them while alive and it is only after their death that we hear noise and eventually nothing happens.
“Joe Erico lived his life and tried his best. Death is a necessary end and it will come when it will come.
“We pray that the family will have the mind to bear the loss”.
Mr Steven Agu, popularly called ‘Hassler’, who played for about four seasons under Joe Erico and was one of those players of the then NEPA FC that made huge impact on young football players in Ikorodu then, also described his late coach as a wonderful man who taught him everything about football and also encouraged him to go for coaching.
“I played almost four seasons under Coach Joe Erico from 1991 -92, 1992 – 93, 1993 – 94. I left in 1995 to the Stationery Stores FC.
“He was a wonderful coach. In actual fact, he was one of the greatest coaches in this land. It is unfortunate that he is no more. While playing under him, he taught me a lot from basic to advanced state in football”, Agu said.
“He even encouraged me to go for coaching. His demise is so painful and we have lost another great coach in this country”.
While charging the Federal Government and NEPA to immortalize him by naming a road in Abuja after him , Agu also enjoined the government not to forget his colleagues, Coach Amodu Shuaib and Coach Steven Keshi who are also late.
“I want the government and NEPA to name a street in Abuja after him. There are others too like Coaches Amodu Shuaib and Steven Keshi”.
Coach Wahab Abolore, the Director and manager, Ultimate Villa FC and Academy, said that the late coach usually encourages and gives upcoming coaches and players encouragement and courage.
“I met Coach Joseph Erico when I started my coaching. He was a man that gave courage to others. I met him when his team, NEPA, was in Ikorodu and I was still young then. It was my fifth year in coaching and I have the opportunity to train with his team.
“I saw the way he encouraged players and also encouraged me as a team whenever I took my team to play with his team. That gave me more courage.
“He was a man, father and mentor who gave more to Nigerian players and football in general”, Coach Abolore said.
