By Akinwale Kasali

 

 

 

Time was when the late Razaq Omotoyossi was regarded as the ‘Golden Boy’ of the Beninoise Football and also tipped as a prospective recipient of the CAF Africa Footballer of the Year.

 

He was dubbed ‘Omogoal’, the opposite of former Super Eagles Striker, Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins, popular as ‘Obagoal’, due to their similarities in physique, ruggedity in front of goal and their doggedness.

 

His brilliance, pace, commitment, determination and sharpness stood him out, and made him a sensational and mercurial player to come out of africa.

 

His goal against the Super Eagles at the African Cup of Nations Tournament, AFCON 2008 in Ghana, in the colours of the Squirrels of Benin Republic further brought him to limelight.

 

Sadly, the once tagged African Pride and fantastic player who plied his trade in Europe and Middle East died in poverty and penury.

 

The late Omotoyossi started his career in Nigeria, but failed to make an impact, before moving to Avrankou Omnispor and JS Pobe in the Benin Republic League before moving to FC Sheriff Tiraspol in Azerbaijan League.

 

He moved to Scandinavian country, Sweden and signed for Helsingborg FC and played a year before going to the Middle East and signed for Al Nassr in the Saudi Arabian League..

 

He returned to Europe and signed for Metz in the France League, after a year, he returned to Sweden and signed for GAIS and Syrianska.

 

After three Years, he signed for Egyptian Side, Zamalek and played for Two Years, returning to Europe, pitching his tent with Kahramanmarespor in the Turkish League.

 

After just a year, he signed for Moroccan league sides, KAC Kenitra and Olympic Safi before Injury struck and ended his football career.

 

Following the football exploits of the late Omotoyossi, he amass wealth and it was gathered that he bought Five houses at Atan Nla, Mercyland Estate at Oluwaga, Baruwa Inside, Mosan okunola Local Council Development Area.

 

Sources close to the late Omotoyossi stated that the former footballer career nosedive after he parted ways with his Wife, Bose Alao, who is an actress in the Nigeria Movie Industry popular as Nollywood.

 

The marriage which produced Three Kids hit the rock in 2019, with the former footballer gradually going into depression.

 

Out of the five houses he has, he began selling them one after the other.

 

His wife returned back into the marriage last year, with the late Omotoyossi going bankrupt, after he had sold four house out of the five.

 

It would be recalled that the wife had appeared in a Podcast with Biola Adebayo, ‘Talk To B’, where she stated that she was involved in domestic violence, as she was seveslt battered by the husband.

 

She stated that her husband was facing depression.

 

In a visit to the area of the late footballer at Atan Nla, residents of lamented the demise of the Kwara State born footballer, saying that depression was the major of his death.

 

Wale Shittu, a close friend and neighbour to the deceased alleged that his Wife was the architect of his depression, as she never cared about him but his wealth.

 

Shittu stated that when Omotoyossi’s Wife left him, there was lady from Benin Republic that he married and bore a child for him, but as his first wife returned, he sent the lady packing.

 

“Omotoyossi made a terrible mistake about accepting to forgive his wife as that was the genesis of his problem.

 

“After the wife returned, he sold two houses, and was left with just one house that he lived before he died”.

 

Corroborating Shittu, a tearful Hamzat Sulaiman, a youth leader in the community said that Omotoyossi’s death was heart wrenching as accusing fingers is been pointed to the wife as the harbinger of his problem.

 

It was gathered that Omotoyossi’s became impoverished that he resulted into taking excessive alcohol, especially sachet drinks known on local parlance as ‘Fenu ja or Pelebe’.

 

Sadly, he lost the Sister two weeks before his demise, a week a later, his house that he lived got burnt.

 

According to Sulaiman, “Bose Alao, wife of Omotoyossi killed him. His Wife left him and rented an apartment in Gemade Estate, regarded as one of the best Estate in Alimosho Local Government, with Omotoyossi paying her house rent running into millions of Naira.

 

“She neglected him and faced her acting career at the expense of her family.

 

“When Omotoyossi slumped and was rushed to the hospital, we placed a call to the wife that the husband was been hospitalized that her attention was needed, but she replied that she was at a movie location that she would come the next day.

 

“Imagine that. She was disgraced at the community when she came the next day that her husband was already dead. They refuse to allow her see the husband.

 

“Omotoyossi died in penury”, Sulaiman weeded profusely as he spoke.

 

It was also gathered that the death Omotoyossi sent Shockwave to the football enclave on Africa and to soccer fans and enthusiasts around the world.

 

Some of his friends added that Omotoyossi was always drunk and gradually fell into depression leading to his death.

 

The Benin Republic Football Association has given the family N53 Million as Compensation.

 

The widow of the late Omotoyossi received the cheque on behalf of the family.