Tributes pour in for Ajibade Babalade

Former Nigeria international defender Ajibade Kunde Babalade has died at the age of 48. He passed on at the University College hospital (UCH) Ibadan on September 4, 2020, after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Babalade began his professional football education in Nigeria and played for clubs like Stationery Stores, Iwuanyanwu Nationale and Shooting Stars between 1990 and 1993. He then joined the Ivoirian club, Africa Sports before 1 returning to Nigeria in 1994 to rejoin Shooting Stars where he represented the Oluyole Boys between 1995 and 1997.

Babalade spent the 1997/98 season in South Korea with the Anyang LG Cheetahs before he finally made the move to Europe with Austrian club, SK Sturm Graz.

Tributes have been pouring in for Babalade who represented Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles between 1990 and 1998, earning 13 caps during the period.

Some of those who knew the Babalade well spoke exclusively to SPNAfricanews.

Sam John Obuh (Former Nigeria U20 coach)

“We became extremely close when I first became a coach.
During a league game, he came to me for blessings as soon as he was named.
That was when he was named Shooting Stars coach. 
He was also part of the coaches that were scouting for me in the South West of the country when I was with the national team. 
He was a very good talent hunter. 
He was really an easy going guy with humility and extremely respectful to his colleagues.. I can’t really say it all. I really will miss him.”

Ademola Olajire (Director of Communications, Nigeria Football Federation)
“I should think that (the first time I first met Babalade) was in 1991, during the qualifiers for the 1992 AFCON. At the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos. I had gone to interview the players and he was there, (a) dark, beefy individual but somewhat shy.
Babalade was as strong as a bull and as hard as nails. He had no time for prevarication. 
His job was always to debar the opposition from getting close to his goalkeeper and he was at his best in the clubs he played for and in the National Team. Dependable.
A great human being who was usually shy and more concentrated on the task at hand. His no-nonsense, no-dilating, no-platitudes approach earned him the alias Kunde, after the great Cameroonian defender of the same build and tendencies- Emmanuel Kunde.”

Toyin Ibitoye (Super Eagles Media Officer)
“I have so many fond memories of Ajibade Babalade both during and after his active playing days. 
He first caught my attention when he was at Stationery Stores in the early 1990s, then he moved to Iwuanyanwu Nationale of Owerri(now Heartland) and then to Shooting Stars Sports Club, Ibadan. 
He was a rock in the defence. 
I also remember his time with the Super Eagles of Nigeria, he played at the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal, his red card in the semifinal loss to Ghana is a major highlight in that tournament. 
After his retirement from active playing, he became the Team Manager of 3SC and I had a lot of interactions with him in that capacity. 
He was a very good, friendly and unassuming person. Great player, great human being. I am pained by his untimely passing.”

Steve Olarinoye (Former board member of Nigeria’s football governing body)
“I first got to know Ajibade when he was with Stationary Stores FC. 
We later became very close when I was in NFA. Became closer when we started Professional league and I became the Executive Secretary of the league.
Ajibade off the field of play was a jovial, humble, ever smiling and sociable individual. On the pitch, Ajibade was always business like, no nonsense and rugged defender. 
Hewas in the same class with Rashidi Yekini in terms of patriotism. He was so committed to Nigeria as soon as he wore the Green/white/Green.
His death was really a shock to me because of the closeness. He was so close to my children especially my son D Deji Olarinoye who was the two times Team Doctor to the World winning under-17 Team. 
Just three days ago, he commented on my post on Facebook. His words: “Egbon, long time no see ooo. You have abandoned your brother”  Rest in peace, Kunde.”

Bode Oguntuyi (Senior journalist)
“There were two meetings as it were, but it was the second meeting that impacted me the most and showed me who the man was.  
I’d gone to Ibadan to cover a league game between Shooting Stars and Iwuayanwu Nationale. 
It was the last game of the first round, but there was crisis in camp over payment of sign-on fees.  
The players, led by then Captain Patrick Ovie had locked out the officials insisting that the only condition under which they’ll play the game is if the officials: TM, Coach, Assistant Coach stay out of their business. While I am as speaking to Ovie, Ajibade – who was home on holidays from where he was playing abroad – drove into the camp.  
He acted as coach and negotiator. The players still refused to allow the coaches but agreed to Ajibade standing on the sidelines. 
He spent his money for the small stuff the team needed and Stars won 1-0.  I saw the respect the players had for him, and I saw his commitment to Shooting Stars that day
I was flipping through the contents of a WhatsApp group chat when I saw a random question about his health. 
Since there is never smoke without fire, I immediately put a call through to my contacts in Ibadan.
The evasive response I got to my questions about his health further heightened my fears. Then an old teammate of his Sunday Audu called me and confirmed the worst.
When I think of Babalade, I think of excellence, dedication, hard work and loyalty  
Everywhere he played, Ajibade excelled: from Akure to Owerri to Lagos, Ibadan and his various stops around the world, he was respected.  
His dedication to excellence is legendary, he was one of the deadliest dead ball strikers at his prime and he was loyal. He never forgot his friends when he made it, and certainly never forgot Shooting Stars.”

Oma Akatugba (Germany-based Nigerian journalist)
“I met him during one of my trips to Ibadan. I met him outside the football pitch and you would never know he was Ajibade Babalade. 
He was very warm and down to earth. I was amazed when I discovered who he was.
My biggest memory of him was when he won the CAF champions league with 3SC. 
He and his colleagues created moments Nigerians will never forget. One of the shining lights of football in Oyo state.
They created moments real fans of 3sc will never forget. May his soul Rest in Peace.”

Kenny Ogunmiloro (foremost Sports journalist based in Oyo State)
“Number 1 memory was the day he was my guest on one of my Radio shows shortly after 3SC failed to gain promotion via the playoffs which they lost to Akwa Starlets (now Dakkada).
It was a round table discussion where he came alongside other football stakeholders in the state.
He spoke about dedication when he was a player of the club and urged the players to show more hunger to take 3SC back to where they belong (the NPFL).
I recall that after the program, we got talking and I told him about Mr Bayo Olanlege (the Ekiti state FA chairman) and what he had been doing to reposition football in the State. 
Being a son of Ekiti state, he keyed into the project told me to tell the Chairman he’s always available for any contribution needed to develop football in Ekiti State.  
Until his death, he’s was member of Ekiti Football Builders group where I and other major Ekiti born football stakeholders are members.”

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