The Nigerian basketball fraternity is mourning the demise of the first Nigerian basketball player to be awarded sportsman of the year, Yomi Sangodeyi.
Popularly known as Yomi Basket, he was a regular face in the various Nigerian National teams to many international tournaments in the late 70s and 80s.
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President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Engineer Musa Kida, said Sangodeyi, who died on Tuesday, was a big brother and a legend of the game.
Reminiscing on the life of the deceased, Kida said, “He was like a big brother to many of us then in the National Team.
“He made it easy for us as young athletes to find our feet and settle in the team during our active days.
According to a 2017 ESPNAfrica article, Sangodeyi was listed alongside Akeem Olajuwon, Alabi Adelanwa, Joe Garba and Emmanuel Chagu as one of the five greatest Nigerian basketball players.
He was arguably the first and best centre of the modern era who became Nigeria’s first full-time professional basketball player.
‘Yomi Basket’ played in Italy, Spain, Turkey, Israel, Argentina and Brazil where he left his marks.
He has since been buried according to Islamic rites.
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