Akeem Yekini with his work tool – wheelbarrow
Akeem Yekini who is the younger brother to the late former Nigerian soccer star, Rashidi Yekini has now turned to a wheel-barrow pusher as a means of survival after four years the death of his legend brother.
Rashidi Yekini in his playing days
Last week, Naij.com Sports had an exclusive interview with the mother of Rashidi Yekini, and she narrated her ordeal since the death of her son.Rashidi Yekini in his playing days
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Our correspondent travelled down again to Ijagbo, Kwara State and Akeem, 30, said that he has been into menial jobs since the death of his brother, he could not secure a job with the little certificate that he has.
Naij.com Sports: You are Akeem Yekini, can you tell us how life has been for you since the death of your brother
My brother Rashidi was the pillar in our family, and since he died, things has been hard for all of us in the family.
Naij.com Sports: Can you elucidate more on your word ‘hard’
I mean I have been suffering since I lost my brother because we were so close before he died, and he was of great help to me.
Naij.com Sports: What is your qualification and what do you do presently
I have only secondary school certificate as I also played ball like my brother. I have played in Brazil and I also had trials then in Italy with the help of my late brother.
Naij.com Sports: What is your major means of livelihood since you lost your elder brother
I am into labouring work like pushing sand with wheel barrow, fetching water for people with wheel barrow and so on just for me, my family and my mother to survive.
Akeem Yekini with his mother, Sikiratu Yekini
Naij.com Sports: What were you doing when your brother was alive
I was into business and things was going on smoothly then, not until when I was robbed, and my elder brother promised me that he would set me up again, and we were still on the talk before he died.
Naij.com Sports: Since the death of your brother, has anyone helped you or your mother
All we have seen is fake promises and even some of my brother’s teammates then and some notable football stakeholders that attended the burial did promised us openly, but since that day, nobody cares.
Naij.com Sports: Who is feeding your mother, and what’s the status of her health
I am the one feeding her, and it is the money I get from my labour work that I use to feed her and buy some other things. It was myself and my sister that used to take care of her, but she died in a car accident when she went to collect money from one of our uncle to treat our mother.
Naij.com Sports: You mean your sister died while trying to help your mum
Yes, she did and she left a daughter behind in which I’m also responsible for her welfare, and that’s the much reason I have to do any job to get money, because I don’t want to steal
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Naij.com Sports: Has any member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) contacted you or your mum since the death of Rashidi
Nobody has ever contacted us except God who has been sustaining us
Naij.com Sports: Can you still play football if you see the chance
Yes, I can still play football very well, but you know I can’t play ball bare footed as I have no money to buy kits. If I even see money to buy kits now, I will prefer using it to buy food stuffs to the house
Naij.com Sports: What do you want and do you or your mother have an account number should incase anyone want to help
I want Nigerians to help us as things has been so much difficult for us. I only have a community bank account
Akeem Yekini with his mother, Sikiratu Yekini
Naij.com Sports: What were you doing when your brother was alive
I was into business and things was going on smoothly then, not until when I was robbed, and my elder brother promised me that he would set me up again, and we were still on the talk before he died.
Naij.com Sports: Since the death of your brother, has anyone helped you or your mother
All we have seen is fake promises and even some of my brother’s teammates then and some notable football stakeholders that attended the burial did promised us openly, but since that day, nobody cares.
Naij.com Sports: Who is feeding your mother, and what’s the status of her health
I am the one feeding her, and it is the money I get from my labour work that I use to feed her and buy some other things. It was myself and my sister that used to take care of her, but she died in a car accident when she went to collect money from one of our uncle to treat our mother.
Naij.com Sports: You mean your sister died while trying to help your mum
Yes, she did and she left a daughter behind in which I’m also responsible for her welfare, and that’s the much reason I have to do any job to get money, because I don’t want to steal
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Nobody has ever contacted us except God who has been sustaining us
Naij.com Sports: Can you still play football if you see the chance
Yes, I can still play football very well, but you know I can’t play ball bare footed as I have no money to buy kits. If I even see money to buy kits now, I will prefer using it to buy food stuffs to the house
Naij.com Sports: What do you want and do you or your mother have an account number should incase anyone want to help
I want Nigerians to help us as things has been so much difficult for us. I only have a community bank account
(Naij.com)
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