Founder of Nigeria's foremost Footballers' Union, Harrison Jalla has appealed to the Federal Government and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to take urgent steps to wade into the deteriorating health situation of coach Sebastian Brodericks Imasuen, the man who first won for the country an age-grade football World Cup.
Coach Imasuen had entered the record books when he became the first man in history to win the very first edition of the then FIFA/Kodak U-16 World Cup in China in 1985.
The coach had put together a formidable youth side which boasted great names like Nduka Ugbade (captain), Fatai Atere, Jonathan Akpoborie, Bobolayefa Edon, Victor Igbinoba, Binebi Numa and a host of others to beat all comers, including eventual finalists, the then West Germany to cart home the prestigious trophy.
Nigeria has since gone ahead to build on that success in subsequent years with four further trophies to follow in the upgraded versions of the championship at Japan 1993, South Korea 2007, UAE 2013 and Chile 2015.
Brodericks has over the years remained a trail blazer in the area of grassroots football development, unearthing several talents who have gone on to make their marks in the round leather game.
However, reports claim that the veteran tactician has since been incapacitated by a debilitating, life-threatening ailment that has left him bed-ridden for several months now.
Family sources from his location in Benin City, the Edo State capital claim that the coach's situation could deteriorate even further if he isn't availed prompt medical attention soonest.
Jalla, now the Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman for the reconstituted Professional Footballers' Association of Nigeria (PFAN) is therefore calling on the government, as well as the football governing body to hasten any form of assistance they wish to offer Brodericks before it becomes unmanageable, saying it was the best honour that they could accord a man who made the country so proud in the past.
"Coach Sebastian Brodericks Imasuen is a man we all know. He brought us so much joy when he led the Golden Eaglets to win for Nigeria the maiden FIFA Kodak U-16 World Cup in faraway Beijing in 1985.
"It will be most disheartening for the Federal Government and the NFF that he served meritoriously to abandon him now he urgently needs help in this time of medical emergency," Jalla said.
"There is nothing I will appreciate more if he can be attended to promptly in order that he can be nursed back to good health," he added.
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