By Bemgba Iortyom
Earlier today, I was part of a group of friends on a sympathy visit in Abuja to ex Super Eagles winger, Tijani Babangida (TJ) who is recuperating with a fractured right leg from a fatal motor accident.
The accident which occurred some two weeks back along the Kaduna – Zaria Expressway claimed the lives of his younger brother, Ibrahim Babangida, and his one year old son, Fadil.
TJ’s wife, Maryam Waziri Babangida, also lost an eye in the accident and is currently lying critically ill in hospital having sustained life threatening injuries which include fractured ribs.
There is at the moment an urgent need for financial assistance to TJ to help move his wife abroad for medical attention to save her life.
So far former playing mates in the Super Eagles and friends have come to his aid in various forms, yet the former Ajax Amsterdam playmaker has appealed for more assistance to help save his wife’s life.
On hand at TJ’s convalescence abode in Wuse, Abuja, today were ex Super Eagles midfielder and later Coach, Sunday Oliseh, who flew in from Belgium, and his older brother, ex goalkeeper, Churchill Oliseh, whom I met in my Year 1 at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife in the early 90s in his final year and the school goalkeeper.
Former Flying Eagles and Super Eagles goalkeeper, Emmanuel Babayaro; former Team Coordinator of Lobi FC and Sharks FC, Samuel Sam Aindigh former Lobi FC Team Manager, Simon Ikya and a host of others were also present, with myself and Sadiq Or-Ukan Anyamikegh also there.
The Babangida brothers, Tijani, late Ibrahim and Haruna, have all played for Nigeria’s national teams at various levels, and it is the appeal now to well meaning individuals and organizations to reach out to TJ in his hour of need.
Iortyom writes from Abuja, Nigeria.
