29th February, 2012
Former Nigerian international, Amusa Shittu, is down with stroke at the General Hospital, Gbagada, Lagos.
The ex-Green Eagles’ defender, 70, has been down for two weeks. A close friend of the former defunct NEPA-ECN player, veteran sports journalist, Segun Adenuga, told P.M. Sports yesterday that Shittu is battling for his life at the hospital.
Adenuga said Shittu’s situation is very bad at the moment to an extent that he hardly talks.
“I know Shittu as an agile person and I don’t think he ever got sick, but I was shocked when I got the news that he was down with stroke,” said Adenuga, who has spent over 40 years in sports journalism.
“It was gathered that the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has offered to pick the hospital bills of the former 3SC of Ibadan and Mighty Jets of Jos star.
“We are very grateful to Governor Fashola, the Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to the Governor, Prince Wale Oladunjoye; Chairman of Surulere Local Council, Alhaji Tajudeen Ajide and other well meaning Nigerians who have come to the aid of Shittu at this trying period, Adenuga said.
Shittu, fondly called “The Bulldozer” is one of the greatest footballers that have played for Nigeria even in the colonial period.
Shittu had fantastic shooting abilities. His days in the Nigeria’s Red Devils alongside the late Thunder Balogun won’t easily be forgotten by followers of Nigerian football.
He also plied his trade with ECN, which were later rechristened NEPA FC of Lagos.
—Sunday Akintoye & Bamidele Olowosagba