FORMER SUPER EAGLES COACH PAUL (WONDER BOY ) HAMILTON IS DEAD (TRIBUTE BY Godwin Enakhena)

When he had one of his legs amputated a few weeks ago, the belief was that that was the end of his protracted illness. I remember a friend telling me that Paul Hamilton will get an artificial replacement and live a normal life again. How wrong he was. The sad story is that, that was going to be the beginning of the end for the WONDER BOY who died this morning in Lagos.

Tributes are pouring in from across the globe, one of them is from Dr. Sanusi Mohammed, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary who said: “We are in terrible shock. ‘Wonderboy’ Hamilton was a perfect gentleman in the real sense of the word, despite being a former international player for Nigeria and a Chief Coach of the senior national team.

“He worked very hard and with his whole heart for Nigeria in all spheres, as a player, a coach and as an administrator. The Nigeria football family will miss him dearly.”

Hamilton, who played for the senior national team in the 1960s and early 1970s, including featuring in the football tournament at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, died in the early hours of Thursday in Lagos. He was said to have been diagnosed of heart and kidney related health issues some months ago, and had his right leg amputated early this year.

Nicknamed ‘Wonderboy’ for his delicate skills and on-field wizardry, Hamilton was at a few times head coach of the senior national team, including taking the reins for the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying series, before Dutchman Clemens Westerhorf took over with only the last match of the campaign (away to Cameroon in Yaounde) left in the series.

He was also head coach of the Nigeria U20 squad that took the bronze medals at the FIFA World Youth Championship (now known as FIFA U20 World Cup) in the Soviet Union in 1985.

‘Wonderboy’ was also the first head coach of the senior women national team, Super Falcons, and steered the team to the 1991 and 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup final competitions.

He was also at different times Head of Technical Department and Head of Lagos Liaison Office of the Nigeria Football Federation.

May his soul find perpetual peace in the bosom of God. Amen