In a sorrowful development, Sebastine Brodericks-Imasuen, the esteemed coach who led the Golden Eaglets to victory in the first U-17 World Cup in 1985, has died at the age of 85.
Quest Times reports that the Nigerian coach had been on life support at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital for more than a year.
Diagnosed with Ischemic stroke in December 2022, Brodericks-Imasuen battled the condition until his final moments.
Ischemic stroke, resulting from a blood clot blocking or narrowing an artery to the brain, was the health challenge that the coach faced. This type of clot often forms in arteries damaged by plaque buildup.
The sad news was initially shared by one of Brodericks-Imasuen’s former players, Bamidele Oguntuashe, from the 1989 U17 World Cup team.
Subsequently, confirmation came through a WhatsApp post from Harrison Jalla, the Chairman of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria Task Force, quoting family sources.
The iconic coach who had been bedridden for several months, also struggled with stroke and diabetes.
Brodericks-Imasuen, a former football player who represented Nigeria at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games, had a notable moment when he scored a decisive free-kick for Bendel Insurance in the 1972 Challenge Cup.
As a coach, he achieved significant milestones, leading the Nigerian team in the U-17 World Cup thrice and also serving as an assistant to Clemens Westerhof in the Super Eagles.
His legacy extends back to his playing days, commencing in 1956 with the Onitsha team in the Challenge Cup and later contributing to ECN’s Challenge Cup victory in 1965.
Fondly known as ‘Sabara,’ he was celebrated for his skillful curving shots, particularly from free-kick situations.
His enduring impact on Nigerian football includes guiding the Midwest junior side to a gold medal at the inaugural National Sports Festival in 1973, marking a remarkable chapter in his coaching career.