Kogi YSFON, FA mourn Coach Shina Akande

Kogi State Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria and state Football Association on Sunday expressed deep sorrow at news of the death of Shina Akande, a former state FA member and scribe of YSFON.

Coach Shina as fondly called, aged 54, who was also a former head coach of the Kabba/Bunu football team died on Sunday morning in Lokoja after brief illness. His remains had since been deposited at the Specialist Hospital, Kabba.

Chairman, state chapter of YSFON, Nnda Colins, in a statement signed by it Public Relation Officer, Samuel Ahmadu respectively, described the demise of its scribe Akande as a huge loss to sports in the state.

Collins eulogized his contributions to the growth of sports and grassroots talent development, admits coach Akande will be greatly missed by the body and various sports stakeholders in the state.

“We YSFON officials in Kogi are pained by our secretary (Akande) untimely exit and would have wished you still remain with us but God loves you more and knows the best. You will forever be in our hearts.”

“We will surely miss him becuase he was the brain box of the state body. Our prayer is for Almighty God to comfort the family and give them the fortitude to bear the huge loss,” he said.

In a statement signed by the FA secretary, Augustine Ogunmola, the state FA chairman, Umarr Sulieman Isah, described the death of Coach Akande as unfortunate and a “big loss” to the state football and Nigeria.

Isah commiserated with the family, the state and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.

“This news is disheartening. It's a sad moment and big loss for Kogi and Nigeria football in general. Coach Akande was one of the best grassroot coaches Kogi ever heard.

He was always appreciated for his simplicity, sincerity, dedication and passion for his coaching job. He will greatly be missed by all and sundry.

“He was known by all who came across him as a gentleman to the core, a very humble, highly dedicated and tireless professional who had real passion for the job. He was just a likeable person in every respect.

“The Kogi football family prays Almighty God grant him and eternal rest and also give the family he left behind the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss”, Isah stated.

Akande led Kabba/Bunu football team, also known as 'KABU FC' to win the Local Governments Cup in South Africa in 2011 and later won the 2013 Kogi State Federation Cup.

Late Akande, who recently retired as the Sports Secretary of Kabba/Bunu Local Government and chairman of Kogi State Council of Sports Secretaries, left behind his wife Comfort Olorunshola Akande and four children.

Following Akande's death on Sunday, Kogi have lost two famous coaches in 2015 following the death of late coach Musa Abdullahi, who won the Nigeria U17 World Cup title in Japan in 1993, in January.

Until his death, Akande had under his watch helped several youth talents rise to stardom, including former youth international and Turkey based defender Gbenga Arokoyo national athlete Kemi Francis and marathoner Aderonke Olumudi.

By Samuel Ahmadu