Late Deacon Yemi Tella Photo: Sun News Publishing

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Coach of the World Cup winning Golden Eaglets, Deacon Yemi Tella, passed on in the early hours of Saturday after doctors at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, battled unsucessfully to save him from lung cancer.

The Head, Corporate Affairs Services, LUTH, Babajide Grillo, who confirmed the death to Sunday Sun, said he was informed of Tella’s demise by LUTH management in the early hours of Saturday.

“Yes, I’m aware Tella is dead. In fact, I was informed about it this morning” (Saturday), Grillo said.
Sunday Sun investigations at LUTH revealed that the remains of Tella were wheeled into the LUTH mortuary.
“Tella’s body has been taken to the mortuary. We are waiting for further directives from the Federal Government. But all I can tell you now is that Tella is indeed dead’’, the medic said.
The 56 year-old coach had spent the last two weeks at the LUTH after being admitted for cancer-like symptoms.

Tella, a former lecturer at the National Institute for Sports in Lagos, had been diagnosed with cancer of the lungs when he led his team to a pre-World Cup eight-nation tournament in South Korea in June.
He received treatment there before recovering enough to lead the Golden Eaglets to victory at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup last month.

Tella was wheeled into the ex-ray section of LUTH last Thursday afternoon for Citi Scan, a procedure that doctors said was imperative at that stage to ascertain the exact condition of the functional abilities of his lungs.

But Tella's health deteriorated rapidly in recent days, culminating in his death on Saturday.
In a bid to save his life, the Federal Government sent money to the hospital, hoping that it could manage the situation before Tella could be flown out. With the visit of the Sports Minister and Chairman Nigerian Sports Commission, Hon. Abdulrahman Gimba, NFA chairman, Sani Lulu and others, it was obvious that the money needed for Tella’s treatment would not pose any problem.

Despite all the goodwill and outpouring of love from Nigerians from all walks of life, Tella still succumbed to the cold hands of death.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) has disclosed that they have notified the world football governing body, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) about the death of the Golden Eaglets coach.

Disclosing this to pressmen at Tella’s residence, the Secretary General of NFA, Bolaji Ojo-Oba, said their decision was informed by the fact that the late coach was a member of both bodies.
“As I speak to you, we have promptly notified FIFA and CAF concerning his death. Don’t forget that Tella was a member of both bodies and we had to inform them immediately it happened. We have not actually heard from them yet,” he said.

Ojo-Oba, who came with other members of the Nigeria football governing body to commiserate with the family, described Tella’s death as a set back to Nigeria football, disclosing that plans are in the pipeline to immortalise him.

Among those from the Glass House that paid condolence visit to the Adeniji Adele residence of the deceased were the NFA chairman, Alhaji Sani Lulu, the secretary and Taiwo Ogunjobi.
In the condolence register, Lulu wrote: “ Nigeria has lost a rare gem, who dedicated all his life to patriotic service in developing sports, particularly football, in his fatherland. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”
Reactions to Tella’s death have been pouring in, with many Nigerians lamenting the passing away of the coach.
The Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), who only last week rallied medical support for the then gravely ill coach, yesterday expressed profound shock at his death.
The governor, who spoke through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, described the late coach as a national hero who made indelible contributions to sports and youth development in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.

According to the governor, “his feat of leading the Golden Eaglets to victory as World Cup champions testifies eloquently to Coach Tella’s legacy of excellence in his chosen field of endeavour.”
Governor Fashola noted that the late coach served with commitment and distinction as Vice-Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association since 2004.

He expressed his heart-felt condolence to the deceased’s widow, who is also a female hockey coach with the Lagos State Sports Council, and his entire family.
The governor promised that the Lagos State Government would work with the Federal Government to ensure he is given a state burial as a national hero.
Fashola equally assured that the Lagos State Government would ensure that the education of the late coach’s children is guaranteed.

In the same vein, former Super Eagles Technical Director, and now Pepsi Academy Managing Director, Kashimawo Laloko, described Tella’s demise, as a shocking news.
Laloko, who described Tella as a brilliant coach, said the country has lost a gem.
“He was my assistant coach at the Sports Council some years ago. He was a perfect gentleman, and a brilliant coach. I find it unbelievable that he’s no more. He won the U-17 World Cup after 14 years that it eluded Nigeria. He was indeed a good coach’’, Laloko said.
Mourning the deceased also, the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) secretary-general, Bolaji Ojo-Oba, said, however, that the planned friendly match between home based Super Eagles and the national Under-17 side will still go ahead on Wednesday.

Ojo-Oba said the game would be dedicated to the departed Tella.
"It is a monumental loss. We are very sad at this moment. We spared no expense in ensuring he got the best treatment in South Korea after he was diagnosed with cancer of the lungs. The doctors told us it was a critical situation but we told them to do their best.

"The NFA told them to keep treating him even after the team left South Korea after the eight-nation tournament and he remained there until the team returned there for the World Cup.
"Even after the relapse of the illness, we gave good support and kept monitoring him. We wanted to fly him out of the country but the medics treating him advised that we should allow him to get better, as his body was too weak to withstand long air travel.

"It is so sad that he has to die just like that," Ojo-Oba lamented.
Tella was the third coach after Sebastian Broderick and Fanny Amun to have won the Under-17 World Cup for Nigeria.
Last month, he was awarded the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic medal – an important honour - for his achievement, by the Nigerian President Umar Yar'Adua.