By Kayode John
Former Green Eagles goalkeeper Peter Fregene has passed on at the age of 77.
Nigerian football legend and close friend of Fregene, Segun Odegbami, broke the news in a Facebook post on Sunday.
According to him, Fregene died in the presence of his family after a protracted illness.
Odegbami, 72, had solicited financial assistance for Fregene and he thanked those who extended support to the deceased while he was alive.
“And the Man died. A few minutes ago, Peter ‘Apo’ Fregene, OLY, former goalkeeper for Nigeria’s Green Eagles, who has been on life-support for the past one week, passed on to meet his creator,” he wrote on social media.
“He died quietly in the presence of two of his children and his devoted wife, Tina. On behalf of all generations of Nigerian footballers, Olympians, sports persons, his family, friends, fans and a few incredible Nigerians that quietly rallied round and, with their support, prayers and the will of the Creator of the Universe, kept him alive until this night, I say a big ‘thank you’.
“Good night ‘Apo’. Rest my friend, rest in peace, finally!”
Nicknamed the ‘Flying Cat’ or ‘Apo’, Fregene was the first-choice goalkeeper for the Nigeria national football team from 1968 to 1971. He was then recalled for the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations finals. He also represented the country at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.
Born in Sapele, Fregene played for Lagos rivals ECN, later known as NEPA Lagos, and Stationery Stores. He won the FA Cup with both clubs.
Stationery Stores Football Club also paid tribute to Fregene, who was described as an “integral part of the team in the 1960s and 1970s”.
In a statement released on Monday, Adetilewa Adebajo, chairman of the club, said: “Peter was an integral part of the legendary Stationery Stores team of the sixties and seventies that provided 10 players on a regular basis to the National Green Eagles Football team,” he said.
“He was in the squad that represented Nigeria in the 1968 Olympics. A team that held the giants of Brazil and Pele to a 3-3 draw.
“Peter was undoubtedly the dominant goalkeeper in the country in the late 60s and 70s. His exploits are woven into Nigeria’s football folklore as his agility earned him the nickname the flying cat amongst others. His physical presence, superb abilities and showmanship, endeared him to millions on fans.”
