By Yemi Sodeeq
The Chairman, Kwara State Basketball Association, Dr.Joseph Adeyemo has refuted claims that the late veteran Basketball Coach, Steve Onisola died from Covid-19 pandemic complications.
Speaking on Thursday during the well-attended wake -keep ceremony for Coach Onisola at Basketball Court of Kwara State Stadium Complex, Dr.Adeyemo described the claim as unfounded and baseless saying he rather died of a protracted illness.
Acknowledging him as an icon, the Chairman said that the gaffer’s demise has created a vacuum in the Basketball family adding that his commitment to the evolution of Basketball in Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole can’t be quantified.
“He is an encyclopedia and symbol of Basketball. A Coach and Referee of international repute, we will greatly miss him.” Adeyemo who is the founder of Olutayo Hospital and a member of Kwara State Covid-19 Technical Committee said.
Tunde Onisola, one of the deceased sons described his late father as a man of integrity whose ideals and virtues had inspired and guided his life.
Expressing gratitude to God for his father’s impact during his lifetime, Tunde noted that his demise was not a call for sobbing but a reflection of a fulfilled life.
The Director of Sports Council, Kwara State, Alarape Atanda, and Coach Sule Yanky Dudu, another Basketball Veteran Coach in their separate remarks said that his meticulousness and dedication to the development of the Basketball game is second to none.
In his own words, Elder Mike Aina urged the government to honor the late Coach for his outstanding contributions to the development of the game in
Kwara State and also tasked them to provide Basketball coaches for the team with a view to continuing developing talents.
An ace Broadcaster, Alhaji Dan Kazeem who also doubles as in-law to the late Coach eulogised him as a disciplinarian whose life worth emulating.
Tunde Popoola, the president of the Basketball Referee Council Association in Nigeria stated that the late gaffer was a peacemaker who always sues for harmony in every dealings.
Coach Onisola has today been committed to mother earth in his home town, Olla in Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Aged 72, he was the Technical Director of Kwara Falcons Basketball team until his demise- was part of the team that gained promotion to the elite division in 2013 and won the Silver medals in the 2018 Kwese Basketball Premier League.
The Kwara Basketball Veteran Association as part of many programs to immortalize him has organized a Basketball tournament tagged ‘1st Prolific Basketball Tournament” in his honor with the final match coming up on Sunday,17th of January.
Guests at the event include the immediate past Director of Sports, Kwara State, Coach Tunde Kazeem, Sportspro News Publisher, Bayour Issah, former Director of Sports Kwara State, Mrs. Sarah Bola Esan, Secretary Kwara State Basketball Association, Azeez Bello and a basketball Veteran, Rasheed Bello.
Other personalities who graced the event are Perpetual Clement, a veteran Basketballer, A.T. Ahmed, Chairman Basketball Veterans, Professor Mrs. Leah Dominic from the University of Ilorin, Coach Bola Magaji, President Nigeria Squash Racket Referees Association, Dr. Steve Olarinoye, a retired Deputy Director from National Sports Commission and host of others.
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