‘Thunder’ Balogun’s legacy must not die – Son

BY JACOB AJOM

It’s exactly 54 years today that one of Nigeria’s greatest footballers, Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun passed on in his sleep in Ibadan, western Nigeria (now Oyo state). His death, according to Kayode Balogun, one of the late footballer’s children remains a mystery. Notwithstanding, Kayode is calling on both the federal and Lagos state governments not to allow his father’s legacy to die with him.

In a chat with this reporter, he recalled in graphic detail how his father died. 

“When he got back home from work, the evening before his demise,” Kayode started, “ he was in his usual self, ebullient and cheerful. After dinner, we all went to bed; no complaints. Early in the morning, we were woken up by a loud scream from dad’s bedroom. It was mommy. When we rushed to the bedroom to find out what happened, we saw mom just screaming and pointing at our daddy, lying still on the bed. A few neighbours came in after hearing mom’s scream. She called a doctor who came in moments later and confirmed that our father was dead. Later they took the body to the morgue. Till date we still don’t know what killed him.” He was 45. 

Teslim Balogun was married to Alhaja Mulikat Abike Balogun, a former table tennis player. They wedded in 1955 before joining him in London in 1956 while he played for Queens Park Rangers. Balogun was Nigeria’s foremost footballer whose exploits were legendary. Apart from playing the game, he was also a coach.

As a striker, Teslim was famous for his fearsome, powerful shot that earned him the nickname ‘Thunder’. Balogun also played for the Nigerian national team for 12 years and a member of the famous UK Tourists. He won the Governor’s Challenge Cup a record five times out of seven finals; played for several Nigerian teams like Marine Athletics, Pan Bank, Jos X1 UAC and Railway, as well as English clubs Peterborough United and QPR.(Queens Park Rangers).

Balogun became the first African to qualify as a professional football coach. Kayode recalled, “while in England, the former Premier of Western Nigeria Chief Obafemi Awolowo persuaded my father to return and help develop the game in the region. He heeded the call, came back and took Western Nigeria to their first Challenge Cup triumph.” He later led the national team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico, where after two losses to Japan and Spain, held Brazil to a 3-3 draw.

As a coach, the late Balogun concentrated on discovering and developing talent. He discovered, groomed and persuaded the late Chief Adegboye Onigbinde,  coach Jossy Lad among others into football coaching. 

Engineer Olamide Balogun, one of the family’s seven children remembers his father as a loving family man. “He was a man who loved his children and ensured he was close to them. He visited us at school and helped in whatever way he could to make us happy and comfortable.”

Kayode told this reporter that the biggest honour done to his late father by the Lagos state government was naming the multi-purpose stadium in Surulere after him, but regretted that not much is happening at the arena now. “Government must not allow my father’s legacy to die. There should be sporting activities there to keep the place booming.

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