The League Management Company (LMC) has described the death of ex-international, Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi as a huge loss to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and the larger football family in the country.
In a tribute to the late football administrator, Shehu Dikko, LMC Chief Operating Officer (COO) said: "Chief Ogunjobi is one of the heroes of league football in Nigeria having captained IICC, a traditional club in our league system that stands today as an institution. He also later led the club as an administrator to the CAF Champions League finals before rising to the pinnacle of football administration in the country as Secretary General of the NFF."
The LMC also announced that a minute's silence would be observed before kick off at all NPFL Match Day 9 fixtures on Wednesday, while players and coaches are also to wear black armbands as a mark of respect for the late Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Ogunjobi, was reported dead on Monday, February 11 in Ibadan, during a brief illness at 65. His last public football outing was when Remo Stars hosted MFM FC of Lagos penultimate Wednesday at the Osogbo Township Stadium, in a NPFL Match Day 7 game which ended 1-0 in favour of the visitors.
“Ogunjobi in his life time was very passionate about football and while as Osun State FA Chairman, his state did not have a club participating in the NPFL, we always counted on him as one of the sound and effective Match Commissioners. There were hardly any issues in matches he commissioned and we would miss those stabilizing effect he brought to league match venues,” Dikko added.
'Skippo' as Ogunjobi, was fondly called by his admirers was the Chairman of Osun State Football Association until his death.
It will be recalled that Ogunjobi, who hailed from Ilesa, Osun State, played for the then IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, now Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), and captained the team to the finals of the 1984 Africa Champions League against Zamalek of Egypt.
Ogunjobi was also the Sole Administrator of 3SC when the team won the doubles in 1995 (the Challenge Cup and the Nigeria Professional League) and was also in charge as Chairman, when the
'Oluyole Warriors' lost in the final of the 1996 CAF Champions League to Zamalek of Egypt in a penalty shootout drama in Cairo.
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Caption: The late Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi.
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