Former Nigeria defender Taribo West has dispelled
news on the social media and websites claiming he died in a South African
hospital on Thursday.
Nigerian website gongnews.com had the
headline ‘Another tragedy: Taribo West dies at 50’ while smithrise.com’s
was ‘Former Nigerian Defender Taribo West Dies in South Africa.’
“The former defender of Nigeria Super Eagles who is
now a pastor and founder of Shelter in The Storm Miracle Ministries of All
Nations has died in South Africa early morning of Tuesday, South Africa Radio
reports.
“He passed on at 42.
According to the reports, West was flown into South Africa for medical
treatment but did not state what he was diagnosed of. His body has since been
sent for autopsy. He is best remembered for his various unusual and colourful
hairstyles,” smithrise.com reported.
But in an interview with
SATURDAY PUNCH, the ex-footballer who had stints at European giants AC Milan,
Inter Milan and Kaiserslautern said he was alive and well, and never visited
South Africa.
He said he first got wind
of the news while at home meditating ahead of his church programme on Sunday.
“I received calls
telling me to check Facebook about news of my death. I saw reports of my death
and people were commenting. I just laughed. I’ve never received such number of
calls all my life. From US, UK, all over the world,” the Atlanta ’96 Olympics
gold medallist said.
He added that he had a
premonition that something ‘evil’ was going to happen, after a spiritual
attack.
Taribo said, “It’s the
handwork of the devil; they struck but they couldn’t get me. Last week, I had a
revelation, in which I was heavily attacked but they couldn’t get me. They also
tried it in the physical but they didn’t succeed. So, when they couldn’t kill
me, they resorted to the rumour of my death. It wasn’t an ordinary thing. But
when they can’t get you, they must join you in celebrating with you. That’s
what’s happening now.”
Speaking further, Taribo
said he is relieved and happy after God used the news to reunite him with old
friends and acquaintances.
“All the people I had lost
contact with were calling, thinking I had kicked the bucket. But it helped me
in reuniting with these people. That’s God’s work, when the devil means evil
for you, God turns it to good for His children. I didn’t travel. I only went to
the American Embassy last Tuesday; I never travelled after that,” Taribo said.
Meanwhile ex-teammates of
Taribo and journalists have urged the public to dispel rumours of the death of
the ex-Enugu Rangers’ centre-back.
The Radio Catalyst slammed
gongnews.com slammed for posting false news on twitter. “Gongnews is fake
brand giving out fake news to the world. Taribo West is not dead.”
Victor Ikpeba tweeted, “My
brother Taribo West is alive. Please ignore rumours that he is dead.” Edema
Fuludu wrote, “I just spoke to Taribo West and he is hale and hearty.”
Austin Okon-Akpan added,
“It’s so disgusting when people put out silly talks on social media. PLEASE
TARIBO WEST IS DOING JUST FINE. Just got off the phone with him.”
Journalist Colin Udoh also
tweeted, “WARNING: Ignore rumors of the death of Taribo West. I have spoken to
him. He is alive, hale and hearty.
punch
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