The former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Fregene, is currently on life support at a hospital in Ohara, Delta State, as he battles for his life in a critical condition.
According to The PUNCH, the distressing update was shared by Nigerian football icon Segun Odegbami, who made a public appeal for prayers and support for the ailing ex-international.
“Peter Fregene is in the hospital and on life support. His situation is critical,” Odegbami disclosed on Wednesday. “What Peter Fregene needs the most now are our collective prayers that the will of His Creator be done!”
Fregene, who guarded Nigeria’s goal from 1968 to 1971 and represented the nation at the 1968 Mexico Olympics, has struggled with ongoing health problems for many years.
Earlier this week, Odegbami raised alarms about the deteriorating condition of the former goalkeeper, revealing that Fregene had been admitted to a hospital in Sapele and was in urgent need of medical attention and financial assistance.
“He is still waiting for help to come in order to be moved by ambulance to the Ohara Teaching Hospital, Ohara, Delta State,” Odegbami explained in a statement on Tuesday, pointing to the pressing need for assistance.
In response to the initial appeal, Odegbami expressed appreciation for the overwhelming support from concerned Nigerians, while clarifying that he is not directly involved in fundraising for Fregene.
“I am not raising or collecting any funds on behalf of Peter’s family,” he stressed. “If the need arises, and I am requested and authorised to do so, I shall.”
Odegbami thanked those who had responded to the call for assistance, adding, “I thank all Nigerians for their concern and response to the humble cry of their hero currently in distress.”
This situation has once again drawn attention to the struggles faced by retired Nigerian athletes, especially those dealing with health challenges in their later years.
Odegbami voiced concern about the absence of a functional welfare system for ex-sportspeople in Nigeria, questioning why such a scheme has yet to be implemented.
“Why don’t we have, or why can’t we set up, even on our own, a simple welfare scheme for active and retired athletes across all sports in the country to take care of our declining health in old age, long after our sports careers?” he lamented.
Fregene, a respected figure in Nigerian football history, was called back to the national team for the 1982 African Cup of Nations finals, underscoring his significant role in the sport.
His current condition serves as a stark reminder of the challenges many athletes face after their careers have ended, as the football community and Nigerians at large rally around him in this crucial time of need.
