By Akeem Busari
Nigerian sports fraternity has been thrown into a mourning over the death of former footballer and sports administrator, Rev.( Dr) Moses Iloh.
Reports emerged that the one-time President of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria passed on Sunday aged 88 years.
Stakeholders and sports enthusiasts have also been reacting to the news.
Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu- Ejidike, in a statement released from his office expressed shock over the death of Rev. Iloh, whom he described as a ‘genuine and patriotic man’ .
” This news is a great shock. Rev. Iloh was a genuine and patriotic man who was passionate about the development of Nigerian youths through sports.
“On behalf of the Nigerian sports community, we pray that God grants his family and particularly, the Nigerian sports, the fortitude to be bear this great loss. And may his enviable legacies never be destroyed, ” Ejidike prayed.
In a similar vein, the National Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters’ Club (NFSC), Rev. Samuel Ikpea, described the death of the revered sports administrator and clergyman as the ‘loss of a titan’ in Nigerian sports.
“Late Rev. Moses Iloh was a great man and an accomplished sports administrator who did a lot to help the growth of Nigerian sports in several capacities.
“The NFSC commiserates with the Nigerian sports fraternity and pray also that God will continue to guide and guard his family,” Ikpea added.
President of Freestan football club, Prince Efemena Elutabe, on his part called on the sports family to ensure that the enduring memories and legacies of late Iloh are protected and equally seen as sources of inspiration to the future of Nigerian sports.
” That the respected sports administrator is no more, should not make us forget all he did and achieved for our sports. His life and times must be a source of inspiration to everyone of us,” Elutabe, owner of the Lagos based NLO side admonished.
Late Rev. Iloh who was the General Overseer of Soul Winning Chapel, was a renowned footballer who played for Plateau XI in the 50s alongside the legendary Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun.
