DO you remember the defunct Green Eagles’ midfielder Kenneth Onyibo Ilodigwe? He was one of the second generation of Green Eagles players, who came to limelight in the early 1970s after winning the prestigious Academicals Cup with the dreaded East Central State team in 1971.
Ilodigwe went on to win the National League consecutively with the famous Rangers of Enugu in 1974, 75 and 76.
He was also in the East Central team that won the football gold medal at the 1973 edition of the National Sports Festival in Lagos.
Now, Ilodigwe is fighting the battle of his life, having been diagnosed with malignant prostrate cancer recently by doctors at the Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, the United States (U.S.) and he is in dire need of $65,000 for the operation.
Ilodigwe, who was nicknamed Kendo in his playing days, was at The Guardian yesterday, where he made a passionate appeal to soccer-loving Nigerians to come to his aid financially to enable him go for the operation in Philadelphia.
Armed with an open letter addressed to the Sports Minister and Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Isa Bio, the former midfielder said: “I want you to help me get across to sports loving Nigerians to help in raising the sum of $65,000 for my prostrate cancer surgery and subsequent rehabilitation.
“I was diagnosed with having malignant prostrate cancer on May 18, 2010 by doctors Harvey Bellin and Jeanne LLenado of the Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, U.S.
The gross and histologic report is currently with the Director General of the Sports Ministry, Patrick Ekeji, who fortunately was playing the right full back position for us in the dreaded East Central State Academicals that won the Gold Cup in 1971.
“I want Nigerians to recall those great moments when I made them to jump out of their seats celebrating goals, either with Rangers at Enugu or with the Green Eagles at the National Stadium in Lagos.
Based on advice from friends, I have opened a current account with UBA N0. 00070020012314 and Domicilary A/C N0 00070521000094. I can also be reached on 08060032421 or email ogeneike@yahoo.com .”
Speaking further, Ilodigwe, who was in and out of the Green Eagles between 1974 and 1977, said: “I decided to cry out because remaining silence would be dangerous. There were so many of my colleagues who had died.
“Emeka Onyedike recently passed away and there were others like Benji Okorogu, Nwachukwu Onyekwelu, Mathias Obianika, Chimezie Ngadi, Patrick Okala, Chukwuma Onyeaghala, Cyril Okosieme, Haruna Ilerika, Aloysius Atuegbu, Nnamdi Nwokocha, Muda Lawal, Ogidi Ibeabuchi, Charlie Okorigwe and Garuba Okoye.
I want people to come to my aid before it is too late.”
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