Kunle Adelabu
Former players who had played in the national league and abroad, football administrators and stakeholders have described the death of late Adewale Bisiriyu Dagama as a great loss to the football family globally.
Dagama died early morning on Sunday, May 9, 2021, and had since been buried at his family house in Solomade.
Late Dagama was a former Super Eagles player and National League player with Shooting Stars FC in Ibadan. He also played for other teams before travelling abroad where he played in various countries before retiring from active football.
During his playing days, he was a lanky and no-nonsense defender dreaded by strikers. He was one of the founding fathers of the Ikorodu All Stars Football Organization.
THE IMPACT engaged some of his former colleagues with whom he co – founded All Stars Football Club, Ikorodu, and they spoke lovingly about Dagama as a player, family man, friend and the impact of his death on the round leather game.
Alhaji Luqman Shonibare, Chairman, Ikorodu Divisional Football Association (IDFA), Chairman, Ikorodu Community Development Committee (CDC) and chieftain of the All Stars FC, Ikorodu, said that the football family has lost a rare gem.
“We have lost a rare gem. Dagama Adewale Bisiriyu was a professional footballer who played for the national team, a member of the All Stars Football team and a member of the Ikorodu Divisional Football Association”, he said.
“He was very jovial, articulate and very knowledgeable when it comes to this round leather game. We have lost him and wish him eternal rest”.
Alhaji Kola Akinsanya, Chairman, Grassroots Sports Development Forum (GSDF), former Coordinator, Pepsi Academy in Ikorodu and chieftain of All Stars FC, speaking with our reporter during the Dagama’s burial, said described him as a pillar of sports in Ikorodu.
The grassroots sport developer, who said that he was with Dagama for some hours before his death, told our reporter that he never showed any sign that he was going to die soon.
“Dagama was a pillar of football and sports generally in Ikorodu. He was a man of dignity. He was very close to me during his playing career, even while abroad”, Alhaji Akinsanya said.
“He had been very close to me like a brother. I will miss him dearly like a blood brother, family and as somebody close to my heart.
“He always goes with me to my place at Ibeju – Lekki. My father and mother know him very well. My mother always called him, ‘Dangama’. This is a very sad development.
“I was with him yesterday (Saturday) till around 2.30pm that I left his place for my house and he never showed any sign that he will be gone a few hours later. Although, he had been having some challenges, yet he was still full of life and charming. We related very well together”, Alhaji Akinsanya recalled.
“It was shocking when l heard this morning (Sunday) that Adewale Dagama, a defender and striker of Attack FC; defender of the 3SC; national team player and my own Dagama and our own Dagama, Bisiriyu Fatai, is gone and gone forever, may his soul rest in peace”, he said.
Mr Adeyinka Abiodun Dakosta, Chairman, All Stars Football Club, Ikorodu and ex – international, described late Dagama as a fierce defender and gentle giant while alive.
He further described Dagama’s death as a great loss to football, especially young players who would need mentorship and guidance.
“We all know that Dagama was a giant of man and a gentle giant. He was fierce in battle just like a force competitor. Most of us who watched him played know that he was a fierce competitor. But outside the field, he was so gentle that you will wonder if he was still the same giant that you played with”, he said.
“That means that he was a human. He was that kind of man that was gentle and loved.
“His death is a great loss because if you have to look at it, we need people who can mentor up and coming footballers to growth and with that, we need people like Dagama in that capacity but unfortunately, we have lost one of the great mentors around.
“Dagama played in Nigeria as well as abroad, Asia in particular. It is indeed a great loss”, Dakosta said.
Kalejaiye MC Mayor, member of the All Stars Football Club, Ikorodu, and a former goalkeeper, also said that the death of the ex – international is a sad loss to the football family.
“This is a sad moment and I feel so sorry that Dagama is gone. We are going to miss him; the whole of Ikorodu, Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole are going to miss him”, he said.
“He was a dedicated man during his lifetime, very loving and a complete family man.
“The football circle in the country is going to miss Dagama. His football tentacles also spread abroad where he played in India, Oman, Vietnam and other places. He had friends everywhere and had been spreading the football gospel. We are going to miss him”.
Mr Olajide Olarerin, the Team Manager, All Stars FC, Ikorodu, also said:
“He was a foundation member of the All Stars in Ikorodu and a good friend. He had performed his bit in football career and did well.
“He was very friendly, loved everybody and loved his family. His death is a very big loss to us.
“We pray that his death will not have much implication on the All Stars, but we have lost somebody whose exit his very painful”.
Also, a defender during his playing days who also played for 3SC, Mr Alowonle Lateef, while stating that late Dagama was his role model, described him as a fierce player with good character.
“Dagama was a good defender, a fine player and fierce in the defense. He was a fantastic player that everybody loved to watch while playing.
“He was my role model and mentor during my own playing days. He was at 3SC Ibadan before I moved to the club too.
“Aside being a fine player, Dagama was also a man of very good behavior”, he said.
