The National Coordinator, Nigeria Para-Badminton, Sam Ekeoma has appealed to the Federal Government to immortalise Abdulrafiu Bello, Nigeria’s and African Para-Badminton champion who died on Wednesday in an auto crash.
Ekeoma made the appeal on Friday in Abuja in a chat with journalists.
Reports say that Bello, Kwara Badminton Association coach, died while returning from Lagos after a visa-application-visit to the Spanish embassy for last round of qualifying event for Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
Bello, an Africa and Athlete Representative on the board of the World Para-badminton Federation (WPF), was scheduled to travel to Spain on May 6, for the last stage of qualifier for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
Ekeoma noted that Bello’s death had dealt a big blow to the country’s quest of picking one of the slots for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
He, however said that things could still change if government could honour him by sponsoring other players.
“Bello paid the ultimate price for the development of Para-Badminton in Nigeria and Africa, and his wife is pregnant as he got married last year.
“We are calling on the Federal Government to see Bello’s sacrifice as what he did for the country, and ensure that Nigeria Para-Badminton qualify for Tokyo 2020; this is exactly Bello’s dream and expectation,” he said.
According to him, Bello will be happy from the land of the dead to see Nigeria at the Paralympics especially the Spanish championship scheduled for May 6.
“I know that Nigeria will qualify if we attend that championship and government should not fail to sponsor our players as a mark of honour for Bello.
“And I say this because Bello groomed very strong players that will take over from him, even in his own category.
And, one of them is expected to go with us to Spain if government can provide sponsorship,” Ekeoma said.
According to him, it is painful that the country lost Bello when the target and dream is to ensure Para-Badminton is part of Tokyo Games, from Nigeria.
“Bello’s death is like a film to me because we were together at the just concluded National Sports Festival in Edo, strategising on how to embark on our trip to Spain for the last round of qualifiers for Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
“On Wednesday around midday, I spoke with Bello and he told me that he has arrived the Spanish embassy to submit his document for next month’s Spanish International Para-Badminton championship which we are to attend.
“He first of all cracked a joke with me that he was in a serious traffic and that he was yet to arrive in Lagos,” he said
He said that he told him to come down from the vehicle and trek if possible, to be able to meet up with time at the embassy.
When I told him that, he now said I shouldn’t worry that he was already inside the Spanish Embassy and immediately he submitted his documents, he called me again that he had submitted.
“From Lagos to Ilorin is about four hours, so, around evening time, I was calling Bello to know if he has arrived Ilorin, and his line was initially ringing but at some point it was switched off.
“It was yesterday that I heard that Bello is dead and you know how far we have gone in para-badminton and Bello is the key to our strength,” Ekeoma said.
He noted that the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA) had already taken over Bello’s sponsorship for the Paralympics upon qualification.
“I got a call on Wednesday from the Ministry of Sports to discuss about Bello’s travelling to Spain for the qualifier, not knowing that he is already dead.
“And he had this accident at the same area he jokingly told me there was traffic when he was going to Lagos from Ilorin, to keep the visa interview appointment at the Spanish Embassy,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara on Thursday described the sudden death of Africa’s number one para-badminton player, Abdulrafiu Bello, as devastating and painful.
The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Malam Rafiu Ajakaye, said the incident represented a huge setback for the Nigerian and African contingents ahead of the upcoming Tokyo Paralympics.
Reports say that Bello died as a result of the injuries he sustained in an auto crash between Oyo and Ogbomoso on Wednesday.
Until his death, Bello was the coach of Kwara Badminton Association and Africa’s representative on the board of the World Para-badminton Federation.
He was due in Spain in May for the last round of the qualifications for Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
“This is a huge loss to, not just the Para-badminton community in Nigeria, but to the entire sports community across Africa.
“Bello was one of the best para-badminton players of all time. His death is truly tragic. The government deeply mourns this great talent who left his footprints in the sand of time.
“I, therefore, commiserate with his immediate family, including his pregnant wife and the entire sporting community in Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole.
“We will miss him a great deal. I pray the Almighty God to console the family he left behind and grant his soul eternal rest.” the governor said.