Nigeria's Pillar of Sports, Agu-Ejidike describes Peter Rufai's Death as Shocking; Condoles with family.

The Nigeria's Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu-Ejidike (JP) has described the death of former Super Eagles' goalkeeper, Peter Rufai as shocking. Ejidike said this, in Ilorin on Thursday, in an interaction with a group of Sports journalists, shortly after news broke that the former "Go Ahead Eagle" FC of Holland had breathed his last.

Peter Rufai it would be recalled manned the post for the Super Eagles in the Tunisia 1994 AFCON, which Nigeria won. He would later follow it up with being the first Nigerian goalkeeper at the FIFA's senior World Cup, in 1994 in the United States of America. Nigeria qualified for the first time, and history thrusted the responsibility upon Dodo Mayana to be in goal for all the four matches played. Rufai who kept the goal for Deportivo la Coruna was also in goal for his fatherland, at the France 1998 four years later, before hanging his gloves for the national team.

Ejidike laments the sudden and untimely exit of Rufai, who died, aged 61, saying he left at a time when the national teams need his experience in mentoring, and nurturing, the current and next generations of goalkeepers for the national team.

The patron of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club (NFSC) said, "this is one death (of ex-internationals) too many, considering the fact that, not long ago, we lost Peter Fregene, Christian Chukwu and others too numerous to mention.

The Anambra-born Sports philanthropist also condoles with members of the goalkeeper's immediate family, praying that the Almighty God will grant the family, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. The Nnewi-born business mogul also condoles with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) the National Sports Commission (NSC), the Super Eagles of Nigeria, and his team mates accross board (at the national teams and club levels). He equally prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased.