Eaglets` Coach, Yemi Tella is dead

[skanbroy]

Source: http://www.kickoffnigeria.com/stories/story8897.html


Tella is dead

After a long battle with lung cancer, Nigeria's Under-17 World Cup-winning coach Yemi Tella died on Saturday morning at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

NFA board member Taiwo Ogunjobi, who confirmed the news to KICK OFF, stated that NFA chairman Sani Lulu Abdullahi and Secretary General Bolaji Ojo-Oba had cut short a visit to the Beach Soccer team in Badagry and were on their way to LUTH.

"The chairman was visiting the beach soccer team along with the Secretary General and I when we got the call that Tella is dead," Ogunjobi said. "This is a sad day for Nigerian football. We cannot say much at this time, however."

Tella's illness became public knowledge when he led the team to the Eight Nation Under-17 pre-World Cup tournament in Korea, where he was hospitalised and the team was left in the hands of his assistants Manu Garba and Ben Iroha.

The late NIS lecturer stayed at the Asan Medical Centre until the squad returned for the main championship, where he guided them to Nigeria's third triumph.

On his triumphant return to the country, Tella was immediately hospitalised and had been receiving treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, with the NFA making it public that the coach had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

Only last week, a Save Yemi Tella Fund was initiated by Sunny Obazu Ojeagbase, head of the Complete Communications group, with a donation of N500 000.

Sports Minister Abdulrahman Gimba also stated while on a visit to the coach last week that his condition had improved.

[Fjord]

The other day, his wife was saying that doctors at LUTH had informed that were he to be flown to Germany for treatment, he'll fully recover; perhaps this was true, but it's now too late. Such a life lost is a pain; hopefully, his survivors will have the strength to bear it all.

.

[Auspicious]

Awww....

So sad.

Auspicious.

[denker]

Originally Posted by Fjord

The other day, his wife was saying that doctors at LUTH had informed that were he to be flown to Germany for treatment, he'll fully recover; perhaps this was true, but it's now too late. Such a life lost is a pain; hopefully, his survivors will have the strength to bear it all.

.

...is unfortunate he's not yar'adua...may his soul rest in peace...another victim of that tragedy called nigeria...

[EbonyLomo]

What a loss, not for his family alone, but for the whole of Nigeria. It is indeed a sad day for the country as a whole for such a man to die after such an illness. I can only pray that the almighty Lord grants his family the fortitude to bare their loss, and may his soul rest in eternal peace.

[Vimo]

I am really saddened by this especially because his wife pleaded for his transfer to Germany for treatment, but the LUTH Doctors told the government there was no need to fly him yet as they could still handle the situation. My heart goes out to his wife & family.

RIP Yemi Tella

[No Smoking]

Originally Posted by Fjord

The other day, his wife was saying that doctors at LUTH had informed that were he to be flown to Germany for treatment, he'll fully recover; perhaps this was true, but it's now too late. Such a life lost is a pain; hopefully, his survivors will have the strength to bear it all.

For the reported long-term of his illness, a trip to Germany at that stage might have been too late. Lung cancer is one of the leading killers, even in the advanced nations. Hence the intensified campaign against smoking.

Tella was a good coach, and stood by his team to the victorious end of the recent competition, despite being so ill himself. Hope his family, team and friends will find the grace to carry on.

[Son of the Delta]

Stories like this makes one to be very angry with Nigeria.


It is very unfortunate.

I dont know when we would start caring for human life in Nigeria.

[Robot]

...Read the full article.

[Amy]

Lung cancer is a killer every where in the world today... Nothing peculiar to Nigeria on that score.

He, at least, had the resources to go to LUTH for treatment... A privilege many deprived and impoverished Nigerians can not boast of anymore... sadly.

He could have died even in Germany like many over there are dying from the same ailment daily.

It is unfortunate, nonetheless.

My heart goes out to his family and friends. I pray they find the inner strength to bear this loss.

[Anon]

Originally Posted by No Smoking

For the reported long-term of his illness, a trip to Germany at that stage might have been too late. Lung cancer is one of the leading killers, even in the advanced nations. Hence the intensified campaign against smoking.

Originally Posted by Amy

Lung cancer is a killer every where in the world today... Nothing peculiar to Nigeria on that score.

The tragedy of lung cancer these days is that you don't even have to be a smoker to suffer from the disease. Dana Reeves the wife of the popular actor Christopher Reeves died of lung cancer two years ago despite never smoking anything in her entire life. There is also research to show a rather sharp increase in various types of cancers subsisting in Sub-Sahran Africa these days. There was a time it was a rarity for one to have Cancer in Nigeria, but the cancer ward at UCH is so full that three quarters of the cancer patients on radiation and chemotheraphy there have to be out patients and brought in daily for their cancer treatment. This is a disease that used to be though a preserve of western countries. Might be that better research and advancement in medicine has made it easier to diagnose in Nigeria, or maybe people are more inclined to visit hospitals rather than our traditional medicien men, or maybe our food growth and the environemnt we live in has made the disease more common and almost a prevalent as it is in the west. The tragedy is that while survival rates for breast cancer depending on the stage has slightly increased from 3/5yrs - 7/8yrs, in Nigeria people die within months of being diagnosed. May Coach Tella Rest in Peace.

[JAGA-JAGA]

What a sad news. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace and God almighty grant his family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. Amen.

[WaleAkin]

May God give his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss!

I hope his Wife and Children will be paid his benefits from the Sports Commission on time and not allow departmental bureaucratic nonsense to becloud their collective sense of reasoning?

Nigeria also lost his Elder Brother, Prof. (Deac.) Ayodele Tella of the CMUL/LUTH in January 2005.

May God bless The Tella family for churning out good and worthy sons!

[presidency]

What a pathetic end for a worthy patriot who recently did Nigeria proud. He died of lung cancer; and smokers are generally vulnerable to lung cancer. Someone tells me that Tella was a chain smoker and a narcotic drunkard but nonetheless, it is painful that he ended like that. It is barely a month that he achieved that great feat for Nigeria but he could not wait to fully enjoy the fruit of his labor.

May God grant his soul eternal rest.


Presidency

[X-Ray]

What a tragic period!

Three deaths in a matter of days. First it was house member, Aminu Safana, a few days ago. Then Lucky Dube the other day, and now Coach Yemi Tella. One dies during the childish frenzy of Nigerian political power play. One's life brutally claimed by the hands of his own African brothers. One taking away by nature's illness. The last two in particular are great losses for Africa. Two heroes, though in different disciplines, who did their part in bringing glory to Africa.

I really thought Coach Tella was going to make it, just so he could enjoy the rewards of his heroics at the Under 17 World Championships. One minute you are basking in the glory of your hard work and achievements, the next minute you are struggling to stay alive. Perhaps if the authorities had acted sooner he'd still be with us. Perhaps if we learn that a stitch in time saves nine we might avoid needless deaths. Perhaps God had ordained it this way and kept Tella alive until after his great accomplishment. Either way, Nigeria and Africa has lost a special man whom many of our officials and sports representatives could have learned from. He was wise, calm and collected.

My deepest commiseration to his wife and family. May his soul rest in perfect peace.

[Obi]

Originally Posted by presidency

What a pathetic end for a worthy patriot who recently did Nigeria proud. He died of lung cancer; and smokers are generally vulnerable to lung cancer. Someone tells me that Tella was a chain smoker and a narcotic drunkard but nonetheless, it is painful that he ended like that. It is barely a month that he achieved that great feat for Nigeria but he could not wait to fully enjoy the fruit of his labor.

May God grant his soul eternal rest.


Presidency

There are cases of non-smokers who went on to develop lung cancer, though the odds are against those who smoke. One just have to pray that such misfortune does not come his way. From what I have read, lung cancer is the least among various cancer types that show early warning signs. By the time It manifests, the original tumor would have certainly spread to other organs of the body such as the liver and the colon. And that must have been the case with Mr. Tella.

Thus, had he been flown to Europe, It would have been another money making avenue for the hospitals who are looking for many Mr. Tellas who've got no health coverage. We will surely die of one thing. But the best practice is to develop the habit of annual check up. You don't have to be sick before having a medical check-up.

It is a pity he didn't live to savour the prestige of his new status. May his soul rest in peace.

[skanbroy]

Originally Posted by presidency

What a pathetic end for a worthy patriot who recently did Nigeria proud. He died of lung cancer; and smokers are generally vulnerable to lung cancer. Someone tells me that Tella was a chain smoker and a narcotic drunkard but nonetheless, it is painful that he ended like that. It is barely a month that he achieved that great feat for Nigeria but he could not wait to fully enjoy the fruit of his labor.

May God grant his soul eternal rest.


Presidency

Here you have it Presidency, with all your unfounded rumour mongering.



Source: http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl....00710213433539

My husband was not a smoker –Wife
By FESTUS ABU
Published: Sunday, 21 Oct 2007
The wife of the late Golden Eaglets coach, Dupe Tella, has debunked reports that her husband died of a sickness related to smoking.

Speaking with reporters at the Lagos Island home on Saturday, Dupe, who was visibly shaken by the death of her husband, said the late former National Institute for Sports lecturer neither smoked nor drank alcohol while alive.

She said, “God knows why he died. It’s unfortunate that some people are now saying that my husband died of lung cancer, I don’t know why they are saying that.”

She lamented the death of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup-winning coach, saying it would affect the family he left behind seriously.

Also speaking, the late coach’s elder brother, Adebayo, said that the family would find it difficult to recover from the shock but said they had left everything in the hands of God.

“It has happened and there is nothing anyone can do about this for now,” he added.

Adebayo, who thanked Nigerians for supporting the family throughout Tella’s stay at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital where he gave up the ghost in the early hours of Saturday, said the family would allow the government to decide on what to do for the family or to immortalize the late coach.

[ezyvic]

May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace, Amen.

Having said that, we must know that lung cancer is one of the most stubborn ailments that have overcome scientific treatment . Flying him abroad MIGHT not have made any long term changes. I would rather we support the family and immediate friend to live with the reality, rather than raise speculations. He should be immortalized, by naming a section/all of the Institute for sport after him, say TELLA INSTITUTE FOR SPORTS.

May his soul and the soul of the faithfully departed rest in perfect peace, again, Amen.

[1234567]

R.I.P our great soccer hero.
I sympathise with your wife and Children..

[emj]

May the lord comfort those left behind. RIP Yemi Tella.