Peter Fregene
By Richard Otega Enyeh
Five days after football legend, Segun Odegbami, solicited financial assistance for ailing ex-Nigerian goalkeeper, Peter Fregene, the former goalkeeper is dead.
He died at the age of 77.
Fregene who was critically ill and on life support over the last few days at a hospital in Oghara, Delta State, died in the presence of his two children and devoted wife, Tina.
Odegbami, who rallied kind hearted Nigerians for financial assistance for the deceased over the last few days , announced the death of his former national teammate on Sunday.
“And the Man died, “ he wrote in a viral post.
“A few minutes ago, Peter ‘Apo’ Fregene, OLY, former goalkeeper for Nigeria’s Green Eagles, who has been on life-support for the past one week, passed on to meet his Creator.
“He died quietly in the presence of two of his children and his devoted wife, Tina.
“On behalf of all generations of Nigerian footballers, Olympians, sports persons, his family, friends, fans and a few incredible Nigerians that quietly rallied round and, with their support, prayers and the will of the Creator of the Universe, kept him alive until this night, I say a big ‘thank you’.
“Good night ‘Apo’.
Rest my friend, rest in peace, finally! “ Odegbami added.
Fregene was Nigeria’a first choice goalkeeper between 1968 to 1971, before being recalled for the 1982 African Cup of Nations finals in Libya.
He also represented Nigeria at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
He was born on the 14th of May 1949 in Sapele, Fregene played for Lagos rivals Electric Corporation of Nigeria (ECN) and Stationery Stores during a career that spanned the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He won the Nigerian FA Cup with both ECN and Stationery Stores.
