Kelechi Emeteole
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=August 2019}}
Kelechi Emeteole (1951 – 21 June 2017) was a Nigerian football player and coach. He was part of the Nigeria national team at the 1976 African Cup of Nations hosted in Ethiopia. Throughout his career, he coached various teams, including Heartland F.C., Enugu Rangers, El-Kanemi Warriors F.C. and the national beach soccer team.
Playing career
Emeteole played 17 matches for the Nigeria football team scoring four goals between 1975 and 1977. He was part of the squad at the 1976 African Cup of Nations where Nigeria won the bronze medal.{{cite web|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/christian-chukwu-describes-late-emeteole-image-everything-football/ |title=Christian Chukwu describes late Emeteole as "image of everything football" |work=Vanguard |date=22 June 2017 |accessdate=23 June 2017}} He was popularly called 'Caterpillar' for his rugged defensive style.
Coaching career
Emeteole was assistant coach of the Super Eagles team and head coach of Heartland F.C., Enugu Rangers, El-Kanemi Warriors F.C. and the national beach soccer team.{{cite web|url=https://www.supersport.com/football/nigeria/news/170621/Nigeria_mourns_as_Emeteole_dies |title= Nigeria mourns as Emeteole dies |work=SuperSport |author=George Akpayen |date=21 June 2017 |accessdate=22 June 2017}} He coached the beach soccer team, known as the Super Sand Eagles, from 2007 to 2009. While he was coach of Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now called Heartland FC) in 2009, the team reached the CAF Champions League finals. In April 2017, an angry mob had attacked Emeteole, who was then coach of Enugu Rangers, after they had lost a match.{{cite web|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/rangers-coach-escapes-mob-attack-after-loss/ |title=Rangers coach escapes mob attack after loss |work=Vanguard |date=20 April 2015 |accessdate=23 June 2017}} He was sacked as coach in May 2015, after being in charge for three months.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4111/npfl/2015/05/28/12161542/enugu-rangers-sack-coach-kelechi-emeteole |title=Enugu Rangers sack coach Kelechi Emeteole |author=Samuel Ahmadu |work=Goal |date=28 May 2015 |accessdate=22 June 2017}} He was hired as coach by El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in August 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/188313-el-kanemi-appoints-kelechi-emeteole-as-new-coach.html |title=El-Kanemi appoints Kelechi Emeteole as new coach |work=Premium Times |date=13 August 2015 |accessdate=22 June 2017}}
Personal life
Emeteole was married to Phoebe Emeteole and had children.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2017-07-12 |title=Emeteole burial holds August 18 |url=https://blueprint.ng/emeteole-burial-holds-august-18/ |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Blueprint Newspapers Limited |language=en-US}}
Health issues and death
Emeteole reported loss of voice after the last match between El Kanemi Warriors and Heartland Football Club of Owerri in December 2015. He had faced similar issues before. In January 2016 the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri conducted biopsy but diagnosed it to be infection. In October 2016 he was diagnosed of throat cancer at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.{{cite web|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/03/kelechi-emeteole-battles-life/ |title=Kelechi Emeteole battles life |work=Vanguard |date=7 March 2017 |author=Chidi Nkwopara |accessdate=22 June 2017}} For his treatment in India, he reportedly needed {{USD}} 11,000. He received financial helps from the Nigeria Soccer Federation-United States of America (NSF-USA), Imo Foundation, Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo, and politician Ugonna Ozurigbo for his treatment.{{cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/sport/nsf-usa-donates-1320-to-ailing-coach-kelechi-emeteole/ |title=NSF-USA donates $1,320 to ailing Coach Kelechi Emeteole |work=The Guardian |author=Samuel Ifetoye |date=23 March 2017 |accessdate=22 June 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://aoifootball.com/2017/03/07/super-eagles-star-kenneth-omeruo-donates-to-save-sick-coach-kelechi-emeteole/ |title=Super Eagles star Kenneth Omeruo donates to save sick Coach, Kelechi Emeteole |date=7 March 2017 |work=AOI Football |accessdate=22 June 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/03/13/imo-foundation-lifeline-for-emeteole/ |title=Imo Foundation Lifeline for Emeteole |date=13 March 2017 |accessdate=22 June 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.authorityngr.com/2017/03/Omeruo-s-N2m-inspires-more-donations-to-save-Coach-Emeteole/ |title=Omeruo's N2m inspires more donations to save Coach Emeteole |date=8 March 2017 |author=Ben Alozie |accessdate=22 June 2017}}
Emeteole had travelled to India for throat cancer surgery but died on 21 June 2017 at a hospital in New Delhi, at the age of 66, after developing breathing complications during treatment.{{cite web |date=22 June 2017 |title=Tributes flood in after Kelechi Emeteole dies in India |url=http://punchng.com/tributes-flood-in-after-kelechi-emeteole-dies-in-india/ |accessdate=22 June 2017 |work=Punch}}{{Cite web |date=2017-06-21 |title=Nigerian coach, Kelechi Emeteole, is dead |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/234649-nigerian-coach-kelechi-emeteole-dead.html |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=Premium Times}}
References
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Category:Nigerian men's footballers
Category:Nigeria men's international footballers
Category:Nigerian football managers
Category:1976 African Cup of Nations players
Category:Deaths from cancer in Nigeria
Category:Deaths from throat cancer
Category:Men's association football forwards