Shaibu leads NIS officials in honouring national football legend at home

Shaibu leads NIS officials in honouring national football legend at home

...Says, Onigbinde is synonymous with FiFA, CAF and Nigeria football

History and gratitude met on Monday as the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Rt Hon Philip Shaibu paid a courtesy visit to one of Nigeria’s most respected football icons, Chief “Adegboye” Onigbinde, at his residence in Modakeke, Ife Osun state.

The visit, carried out in the company of other senior officials of the National Institute for Sports and the President of Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Coach Ladan Bosso , was more than an official engagement, it was an acknowledgement of a lifetime devoted to the growth and development of Nigerian football.

Shaibu and his delegation were warmly received by the aged tactician whose name remains etched in Nigeria’s football history.

Born on March 5, 1938, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde famously managed the Nigeria national team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, having earlier served as head coach between 1982 and 1984.

Beyond the national team, his influence stretched across the continent and beyond as a CAF and FIFA Technical Instructor, where he mentored coaches and contributed immensely to football education and technical development.

Speaking during the visit, the NIS Director described Onigbinde as “a pillar in the foundation of Nigerian football”, stressing that honouring sports legends while they are still alive is a core responsibility of institutions charged with sports development.

“Coach Onigbinde represents an era of discipline, courage, and football intelligence. At the National Institute for Sports, we believe that our legends must be celebrated, respected, and preserved as national treasures, while we also taped from their experience and wisdom in navigating our core mandate, "Shaibu stated.

The visit was reflective and emotional, filled with memories of national duty, tactical innovation, and sacrifices made for the green and white.

Chief Onigbinde, visibly touched, expressed appreciation to the NIS leadership for the visit , said Comrade Philip Shaibu was a right choice by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to lead the NIS at this time, he therefore encouraged young coaches and administrators to embrace learning, professionalism, and integrity.

The courtesy visit stands as a strong statement of recognition, one that reconnects Nigerian football with its roots and honours those who laid its groundwork.