Biography
Patrick Olusegun Odegbami, popularly called “Segun” was born on August 27, 1952 in Abeokuta to Jacob Adebola Odegbami and Beatrice Bintu Abeke Odegbami.
Odegbami is regarded as one of Nigeria’s greatest footballers.
Going by his date of birth, he is currently 69-year-old but will be 70 years old by August 27, 2022.
Odegbami grew up in Jos, Plateau State, Northern Nigeria, with other members of his family.
His father’s half-brother is the renowned author, Amos Tutuola.
The ex-footballer is a brother to Wole Odegbami, a former Nigeria national football team player and a columnist.
He earned his nickname “Mathematical” while studying engineering at The Polytechnic of Ibadan. A nickname which many later attributed to his football style of play because of his pace, skills and goal-scoring skill from the right wing.
Education
Segun Odegbami studied engineering at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, where he earned the nickname “Mathematical”
Marriage
It was reported that different women had featured in Segun’s marital journey – Jumoke Tejumola, an accountant and ex-athlete, Funmi Iyanda, who is a popular talk show host, and Oyindamola Adeyemi- a businesswoman.
Odegbami has a daughter who sings under the name.
His children include:
- Morenike
- Stephen
- Funmi
- Junior
- Tolu
- Yemisi, a popular singer and songwriter (pka May7ven).
When asked about if he believed in polygamy, Segun said “It is not belief; it is an integral part of the life of an Egbaman.
“ When I came here, I saw it, even though I didn’t live here. My father told me before he died that you this man, how can you be living alone in your house? This is unhealthy.
“Meanwhile, my family, my wife were abroad. He said this is unhealthy; you either bring the woman back or you get married again. I’m just giving you as an example. Here, you find out that it is everywhere.
“The management of relationship, the Yorubaman got it perfect. The Yorubaman knows how to manage religion better than any tribe, any race in the world. Religion, the relationship between man and woman, marriages, we manage it better than anywhere in the world.”
Net worth
Segun is reportedly worth about $1.5 million.
Achievements
Odegbami won the Nigerian Premier League with Shooting Star in 1976, 1980 and 1983.
He also won the Nigerian FA Cup with the club in 1977 and 1979.
In 1978, Odegbami won a silver medal at the All-Africa Games with the Nigeria national team.
He was a member of the victorious Nigerian national team at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations. This victory earned him the prestigious National Award of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).
Segun was awarded the African Cup of Nations’ top goalscorer in 1978 and 1980.
Odegbami bagged a brace against Algeria in the final match of the 1980 edition of the African Cup of Nations.
He also featured in the Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament in 1980. He also won the African Footballer of the Year runner-up award that year.
In 1980, Segun also captained the Eagles to the Olympics in Moscow.
Segun scored 23 goals for the Nigeria national team in 46 caps.
After retirement, Segun ventured into sports journalism and commentary.
In 2007, Odegbami featured on the popular TV show “Nigerian Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” with Chief Zebrudaya. He donated all his winnings from the show to The Little Saints’ Orphanage.
In an interview, Odegbami revealed that he was issued a certificate by the World Olympians Association on June 24, 2001, officially recognizing him as an Olympian.
On several occasions, Odegbami contested to lead the Nigeria Football Federation but failed on many occasions. He blamed his inability to play “Nigerian Politics” as the reason.
“We all know the politics in Nigeria and how it is not a demonstration of meritocracy or about who is the best. It is about who knows how to play the game of politics. So, I failed woefully in the game of politics. I never attempted for CAF presidency but I intended to be FIFA president but the support was so little here in Nigeria that my plane didn’t even leave the tarmac of Abeokuta. That was unfortunate” he said in an interview with Daily Trust.
He currently runs a football academy in Lagos known as Segun Odegbami International College and Sports Academy (SOCA), where he grooms young footballers.
He is also the author of the book – “Me, Football and More.”
Disclaimer
The information in this article was curated from online sources. NewsWireNGR or its editorial team cannot independently verify all details.
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