by Akan Ido

Ex-Super Eagles midfielder, Thompson Oliha who died on Sunday was said to have died expecting the houses promised by the Federal Government to members of the Tunisia ’94 Nations Cup winning team.

The FG had promised the players and officials of the team houses but while some got theirs, others, like Oliha, who was an integral part of the team, did not.

According to his widow, Iris, the player has for long clamoured for the fulfilment of this promise saying he did not want to die without seeing the house.

“The only thing that my husband did not live to witness was the house that the Federal Government promised the winning 1994 class of the Super Eagles,” Iris told the News Agency of Nigeria.

“He repeatedly asked questions on what was causing the delay in fulfilling the promise. He said his colleagues, Uche Okafor and Rashidi Yekini, died without the promise being  fulfilled.

“He did say that he didn’t want to die before the Federal Government fulfilled the promise, but, has it not happened now? This is highly unfortunate,’’ she added.

Iris told newsmen that her late husband was never sick for long and did not complain of any sickness contrary to widespread reports.

Iris said, “He even went to work yesterday (Saturday) because they played a match. He came back to take his shower. On Wednesday, they also went to Ibadan to play a match with 3SC. So, if he was sick, how would he have gone to Ibadan?”