TheCable

Amaju Pinnick, the president of Nigeria Football Federation, praised God for the life of late Mrs Lucy Philip Enyeama, mother of Super Eagles’ goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who was buried in Urua Inyang, Akwa Ibom state on Saturday.

The NFF boss, who was at venue of the burial mass, charged all those present not to mourn, but to celebrate the life and times “of a woman who left behind several children she brought up in the way of the Lord, and who have achieved fame in their chosen careers”.

“One of those children that our dear mother, Mrs Lucy Enyeama, left behind is Vincent, one of the best goalkeepers in the world for several years now, a three-time FIFA World Cup star and winner of the Africa Cup of Nations, as well as several other accomplishments,” he said.

“The Nigeria football fraternity appreciates how much our Captain must be grieving at this period. His mother, Mrs Lucy Philip Enyeama was a very caring and compassionate parent, who gave her children much love and support during her lifetime.

“Dear all, we loved her, but God Almighty loves her much more. And we must take solace in the fact that late Mrs Enyeama left her very bold footprints in the sands of time. Rather than be thrown into sorrow, we must celebrate her for she has been succeeded by children of mettle, and of timbre and calibre.”

The burial rites began on Friday with a night of songs at the Christ The King Church (CKC), and there would be thanksgiving at the same venue on Sunday.

Also at burial mass were Udom Emmanuel, the governor of Akwa Ibom state, Moses Ekpo, the deputy governor, and the secretary to the state government, Etekamba Umoren.

There were also NFF executive committee member, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, former Super Eagles’ skipper Joseph Yobo and the president-general of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rafiu Oladipo.