“Since the death of his wife, Kate, in December 2015, his life had changed dramatically,” a family member said on Wednesday morning hours after the football icon passed on.
He said Keshi, 54, had become hypertensive “but was managing it very well… always taking his medications and checking his blood pressure very regularly”.
Another family member told TheCable that since the former Super Eagles’ coach lost his wife, he had become so lonely that he was practically soliciting phone calls from friends.
“After the burial of his wife, people practically left him to himself. The calls and visits became fewer, and he felt the pain the more. They were married for 35 years and he watched the love of his life battle bravely with cancer for three years. He was inconsolable,” he said.
TheCable understands that Keshi, who was due to travel to the US later in the day, started complaining of excruciating pains in his legs a few minutes to midnight.
He was rushed to the hospital when the pains would not subside, but TheCable couldn’t confirm if he died on the way or on arrival.
In a statement issued by his family, the preliminary cause of death was given as “cardiac arrest”.
Respected sports journalist, Kayode Tijani, who was very close to Keshi, told TheCable that he spoke with the former international last weekend.
“He asked about me from a mutual friend, so I immediately called him. He was so appreciative. You would think I gave him something he did not have. He kept thanking me profusely for calling him,” Tijani said.
When his wife died, Keshi had said: “She was ill for a while now and I’m still in shock of this great loss.
“She is more like a sister to me and was the rock behind me and everything I do. My love for her was at first sight.”
They had four children.
Ghana Football Association (GFA) President Kwesi Nyantakyi has sent a message of condolence to the Nigeria Football Federation and its President, Mr Amaju Pinnick.
“Stephen Keshi was a great man and a noble spirit, whose shining example of dedication to football and to footballers was not only to dedicated Nigeria but to several countries including Ghana as he mentored several Ghanaian players," wrote the GFA President.
"Keshi's death is not only a loss to our brothers Nigeria but also to the football fraternity of Ghana. He was greatly admired by all and he will indeed be sorely missed.
“I had the honour – and the privilege – of meeting him on several occasions, and I was always overwhelmed by his dedication to football, his knowledge of the game and humility. This is a very sad day for us,” added Kwesi Nyantakyi in his message.
On behalf of himself and the entire Ghana football family, the GFA President asked Mr Pinnick to convey his sincerest condolences to the Keshi family in this time of sorrow and pain.
The flags at the GFA headquarters will be flying at half-mast as a token of the Ghana football fraternity’s deepest respect for Stephen Keshi.
source:gahanweb.com
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