Former captain of Nigeria’s senior national team, then Green Eagles, Segun Odegbami (MON) has given update of the state of health of ailing former legendary goalkeeper, Peter Fregene at the weekend.
Odegbami said that contrary to the request by some family members to unplug Peter from life-support and be allowed to die at home, Marian, his first child and Tina, his wife of several decades, chose to follow the advise and referral by Obule Medical Centre, and moved Peter by ambulance to the Teaching Hospital facility in Oghara, Delta State.
“I can confidently tell you that as soon as Fregene was moved by ambulance to the teaching hospital in Oghara, the hospital immediately went to work on the man, starting with his body ‘decorated’ with bedsores. He is now receiving first-class treatment and is being stabilised in the Intensive Care Unit.
“The medical expenses at the Sapele hospital, and the immediate costs of treatment at the Teaching hospital are being taken care of by a few concerned Nigerians that prefer to be anonymous for now. And the avalanche of requests by Nigerians all over the world for a bank account to pay into in support of Peter Fregene has been overwhelming. Most of them do not even know him,” he said.
According to Odegbami, there is no approved bank account by the family. And anyone desirous of helping in any way can deal privately with the family through Tina or Marian.
“The Federal Government and some State governments are already responding. What is more important now is the medical care and divine touch that can help to wake Peter up from this ‘deep sleep’ and enable him to appreciate this flood of uncommon love and goodwill for him by Nigerians.
“I shall not post any more reports on Fregene unless there is an absolute need to do so.
What happens next is out of our hands. It lies in divine providence.
“May the will of the Creator of the Universe be done. Amen,” Odegbami concluded.