The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed its shock and sadness over the death of former President of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Otunba Tade Azeez.
Azeez, 63, was reported to have passed away at about 2.45pm on Friday after a brief illness.
NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, was stunned when first notified of the demise of Azeez, who was also Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association during the tenure of former NFF 1st Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi.
“What? Are you serious? This is shocking; we didn’t even know that he was sick. Another big loss to the Nigeria football fraternity. Only a few days ago, we were mourning the death of former FIFA referee Bosede Momoh. This is devastating,” Sanusi said, according to NFF media.
“There is nothing we can do other than to remember, with fond memories, his great contributions to the development of Nigeria football, which he did with utmost dedication, discipline, diligence and commitment.
“We pray that God will grant him eternal rest and also grant all those he has left behind, including friends, family, the refereeing community and the football family, the fortitude to bear the loss.”
“Avuncular, vibrant, dignified and gifted with people skills, the 63-year-old was an eminent stakeholder in Nigerian football, and continued to contribute immensely to the game even after leaving office as NRA President, by accepting to be chairman of the top-of-the-range off-season football tournament, ValueJet Cup competition,” the NFF said in a statement.
“Azeez was a top referee in his days before retirement, and then became the leader of the Referees’ body, during which he midwifed transformative programmes that have firmly positioned the NRA to meet up with the demands of the technological era.
“He was also in the thick of things during the remarkable Seyi Akinwunmi era in the Lagos State Football Association, which positively re-defined football development, improvement and sustainability in the state.”
