FORMER IICC Shooting Stars defender Moses Otolorin is dead.He died on Monday in his home town Ilorin at the age of 67 years during a protracted illness.According to the information available to the Tribunesport, the former Nigerian international died of prostate and anus cancer at a private hospital in Ilorin.His remains have since been deposited at a mortuary in the city.Otolorin began his football career with Tate and Lyle FC of Ilorin before he joined the then IICC Shooting Stars in 1975.Otolorin, a long throw specialist was a member of the history winning IICC Shooting Stars FC squad which won the then African Cup Winners Cup in 1976.He was also a member of the team which lost in the final of the 1984 African Champions Cup.He veered into coaching after he called it quit with active football.Otolorin retired as the head coach, football at the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin in 2010.Meanwhile, one of Otolorin's team-mates at Shooting Stars FC, Nathaniel Adewole, said the deceased did his best for the game.'It was sad news and Otolorin unfortunately did not get the kind of attention he deserved during his turbulent period like any other former football stars in this country because of the system we are running. He played his part well towards the growth of football in this country.'He was such a jovial person, he came from Ilorin with the late Folorunso Gambari to join Shooting Stars and he featured regularly en route to our victory in the African Winners Cup,' said Adewole, a former General Manager of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).Also, the Kwara State Sports Writers Association (SWAN), in a statement described Otolorin's exit as shocking.In a statement signed by its Secretary, Jimoh Bashir, Kwara SWAN said the death came at a time when the nation needed his services most, just as it urged the family to take solace in the facts the late great footballer lived a purposeful life.The association prayed God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable death and grant him eternal rest.Meanwhile, coach of the IICC Shooting Stras in 1976, Allan Hawkes has said the late Moses otolorin scored the best goal he has ever seen till date.According to a sport researcher/writer Ayo Ademokoya, Otolorin, a few days ago communicated with Hawkes by email where the Briton trainer made the remark.'I didn't know what he discussed with Hawkes but he mailed him a few days ago and the coach was happy to hear from one of his former players. In fact, Hawkes said about Otolorin in his email message to me.'I have only just received the photo of Moses and I have sent him an email telling him he is better looking now than when he first played for me at 'Shooting'. What a lovely lad. I loved him to bits. I often tell stories to my friends about the best goal I have ever seen scored in my life, which happened at the Liberty Stadium, during a practice match when Moses hit a ball from the kick-off from about 40 yards, which whizzed past Zion Ogunfehimi, our reserve goalkeeper, without him seeing the ball.'Such was the distance from which this goal was scored, there was a period of complete silence from all the other players on the field, who stood around in utter disbelief at what they had just witnessed. This was followed by a spontaneous applause from the rest of the players on the field, at what they had just seen. Personally, I was overwhelmed. What a great goal which in all my experience as a player and coach I had never ever seen bettered by any player in the world, including Pele.'He described the death of Otolorin as a huge shock.'What terrible news to hear Moses has died. I received an email from him just three days ago, in fact he sent two photographs of himself, in action, on the football field and I e-mailed him back to ask how he was getting on and tell me about his family. I was so looking forward to hearing his reply.'What a terrible shame, he was such a lovely lad and one of the easiest of human beings to get along with. I was not aware of his cancer and I would like you to pass on my condolences to the members of his family. He was a fantastic player and a genuinely nice man,' Hawkes said.God bless him and may he rest in peace. So sorry,' the Briton tactician said via an email message.
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