BY MOSES ETU
Immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Referees Association, Alhaji Tade Azeez passed on today at the age of 63 after a brief illness.
An omnipresent figure in Nigerian Football, he was two-term Chairman of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA) and Vice-Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA). He also served in several Football Committees and he was committed to the growth of Football in Nigeria and Africa.
Alhaji Tade was admired as much for his sportsmanship and integrity. He rose from being one of the best referees in his era to becoming an astute football administrator.
He’s the brain behind one of the most organized off-season Football Tournaments (ValueJet Cup) in Nigeria. He will be remembered as a giant of the game in Nigeria.
Alhaji Tade’s unparalleled record of achievement, character, and service will be forever etched in the history of Nigerian Football. His legacies such as the ValueJet Cup, his contribution to the development of Referees in Nigeria, and his contribution to LSFA and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will live on.
