Wear black armbands to honour Brodericks-Imasuen, NPFL tells clubs
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), said it will wear black armbands in honour of the death of Sebastien Brodericks-Imasuen, one of the foremost coaches of a number of league clubs in the past.
Brodericks-Imasuen died at the age of 85 in a private hospital in Benin, Edo State. He made global headlines after leading the Nigeria’s U-16 team to win the maiden FIFA Cadet Championship in China in 1985.
Head of Media Communications at the NPFL, Harry Iwuala, said the NPFL Chairman, Gbenga Elegbeleye directed that as a mark of honour to the late coach, players and officials of the NPFL would wear black armbands. Also, a minute’s silence would be observed before kickoff on Match Day 17 of the season this weekend.
“Sebastien Brodericks-Imasuen was a coach who made youth football popular in Nigeria,” the NPFL said.
“At some point in his career, he was one of those that heightened interest in the Professional Football League with a running rivalry with some other top club coaches like Willy Bazuaye, James Peters, Charles Bassey, to mention a few.”
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“By his death, our country has lost an icon in the coaching echelon.”
Brodericks-Imasuen also coached El-Kanemi Warriors, Udoji United FC and Bendel Insurance asides his successes at international level.
On his watch, Nigeria’s U-16 squad won the inaugural FIFA Cadet World Cup in China in 1985, defeating West Germany 2-0 in the final at the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing.
Two years later in Canada, he led the team to runner-up position after a penalty shootout defeat to the former Soviet Union. Then, two years later, in Scotland, his team lost to eventual winners Saudi Arabia on penalties in the quarter-finals.