THE PASSAGE OF ‘DODO MAYANA’Peter Rufai, ace Super Eagles goalkeeper, dies at 61

Name them: Christian Chukwu. Obisia Nwankpa. Charles Bassey. Moses Effiong. These are some of Nigeria’s sporting heroes that have passed on in the last four months. Sadly, they all died not on account of old age, but rather due to some health challenges. Peter Rufai, fondly called ‘Dodo Mayana’ by his legion of fans within and outside the African continent, is the latest of such sporting heroes to die relatively young. In his death at age 61, Nigeria has lost one of its brightest and most charismatic professional footballers—one who served the national team admirably and guided it through its golden era.

Throughout the over two decades of his career that saw him play for local and foreign clubs until he retired in the early 2000s, Rufai was an embodiment of patriotism, dedication and professionalism. Rufai made his debut for the national team (Super Eagles) in a friendly match in December 1981, won silver medals at the Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) in 1984 and 1988, before bagging gold at the 1994 edition in Tunisia. In all the three AfCON competitions, he was the first-choice goalkeeper.

Going by available records, Rufai represented the Super Eagles on 66 occasions and was a stand in captain for the national team during Nigeria’s maiden appearance at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States. He also represented Nigeria at the 1980 and 1988 Olympic Games. A flamboyant goalkeeper renowned for poise and composure, Rufai made his second and last World Cup appearance in 1998 at the tournament held in France.

In a remarkable career for the country as a goalkeeper, Rufai also had a goal to his name, scoring for the Super Eagles in the 6-0 annihilation of Ethiopia on 24 July 1993, during an AfCON qualifying match in Lagos. Considered by many as one of the greatest goalkeepers for the national team, Rufai was always placed in the class of Thomas Nkono of Cameroon, Ebadou Zaki of Morocco, Antoine Bell of Cameroon, Nigeria’s Emmanuel Okala and Essam El-Hadary and Mohammed El-Shenawy of Egypt among African goalkeepers across different generations. Following his retirement from active football, he started to run a goalkeeping academy in Nigeria and Spain. And in death, he has now joined the likes of Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, Thompson Oliha, Uche Okafor and Wilfred Agbonavbare.

A prince from the Idimu royal family in Lagos State, Rufai started his career with Sharks (Football Club) of Port Harcourt in the late 1970s. He later joined Stationary Stores of Lagos and subsequently plied his trade for Femo Scorpions of Eruwa and AS Dragons de I’Oueme of Benin Republic through the 1980s. He also played for Lokeren and Beveren in Belgium before joining Go Ahead Eagles of Netherlands in the 1993–94 season. After the World Cup in 1994, Rufai was signed by Portuguese side, S.C. Farense and later moved to Spain, where he featured for Hercules CF and Deportivo La Corona. After a short stint in Spain, he returned to Portugal for his final hooray with Gil Vicente FC.

In an ideal situation, our sporting heroes need not become beggars to enjoy decent post-retirement health incentives. But that has become the lot of many of them after their career is over. This is an issue that keeps recurring and needs to be addressed. A deliberate effort must be made by critical stakeholders to establish either a foundation or an institution that will help many of these people through their post-career years. Besides, immortalising some of them is also good for posterity as that could help to serve as inspiration for the coming generations.

May God comfort the family Peter Rufai left behind.