PAINFUL:’My Wife, Pain & Regrets’-Stephen Keshi, former Super Eagles Chief Coach*Mourns Kate Abureme, mother of his 4 Children*How Deceased Battled Cancer for 3 Years in United States Hospital*PLUS: Her Last Unfulfilled Wishes* ‘She gave a good Fight until she finally Succumbed yesterday’-FAMILY Statement* Keshi in tears lament: ‘She’s everything to me’QUOTE: ‘Life and Death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides’-Lao Tzu

PAINFUL:

‘My Wife, Pain & Regrets’-Stephen Keshi, former Super Eagles Chief Coach

*Mourns Kate Abureme, mother of his 4 Children

*How Deceased Battled Cancer for 3 Years in United States Hospital

*PLUS: Her Last Unfulfilled Wishes

* ‘She gave a good Fight until she finally Succumbed yesterday’-FAMILY Statement

* Keshi in tears lament: ‘She’s everything to me’

QUOTE: ‘Life and Death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides’-Lao Tzu

BY BOLAJI EKUDAYO, SPORTS EDITOR, NIGERIA

“THE Life of the dead is placed in the memory of the living,” states Marcus Tullius Cicero, a philosopher.

SHE was a helper, a mother, good wife and very amiable. She was full of smiles and had no dull moments. She leaves a lasting positive impression and smiles on faces of everyone she ever met. She was a happy and godly woman. That was the life led by Kate Abureme, an Ishan lady from Edo State married to former Super Eagles’ Chief Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi. Obviosuly, the demise of this mother of 4 beautiful children yesterday, Wednesday, December 10, 2015 in United States of America’s hospital has left deep wound and hollow in the heart of Keshi; that may be very difficult to heal except by God divine mercy.

During Kate’s lifetime, she was seen by family and friends as a ‘twin-sister’ to Keshi because of their understanding, closeness, affection, pure love and harmony which spanned a period of over 30 years. Always, she was on her knees for Keshi praying that God should prosper him, make his career greater and bless him in all ramifications of human endeavour. As postulated by Cicero, Kate’s life is placed in the memory of the living since her virtues and good works to humanity are living proof of her godly and exemplary lifestyle.

To Keshi, “Kate’s demise has brought him agony, pains and regrets,” explained a close friend of the former Super Eagles handler. He said: “Keshi’s world revolves round the pure love shared with Kate for over three decades. There was no step Keshi had taken since they got married that was not guided by Kate, a woman of prayers and uncommon belief in the power of possibility. She always believe in miracles. She never ever gave up in the power of God. We are all shocked at her death, the pillar of Keshi’s life. I can tell you as a friend to Keshi, we are all mourning this great woman, who never discriminates anyone, irrespective of your tribe meeting Keshi.”

How Deceased Battled Cancer for 3 Years in United States Hospital

Information reaching us from United States showed that Kate was firstly admitted in an American hospital on May 5, 2012 after which the physicians observed traces of cancer in her body. She was placed regularly on medication and she never defaulted once in her treatment, as a woman of strong-will to live. She fought death face-to-face for three years, full of prayers while treatments were on-going without giving us on her belief of receiving healing someday. It was three years of battle, prayers and today, she had overcome death in victory, since she will no longer feel pains or have traces of cancer any longer.

Her Last Unfulfilled Wishes

Sources disclosed to this correspondent stated that Kate had wished her husband will continue to soar higher in his coaching profession seen that Keshi loved football (called soccer in America) so much and her desire was waiting for this to happen in her lifetime which led to her resilience to give up to death for three years, even at close encounter.

‘She’s backbone of my Success’-Keshi laments

Keshi in tears laments: “Kate is everything to me. She’s been backbone pf my career and success. She was always praying for me for God’s divine guidance which is over 30 years now. There is decision I ever took that she was not part of. Where would I start from? We had already planned how we were to celebrate this Christmas and New Year as a family. Oh God, help me.”

‘She gave a good Fight until she finally Succumbed yesterday’-FAMILY Statement

In a statement issued by Emmanuel Ado on behalf of the Keshi Family to confirm the death of Kate, the 54 year old wife to former Super Eagles Chief Coach, it reads: “With gratitude to God the family of Mr. Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, CON, announces the death of our wife, mother, daughter, sister, Mrs Kate Kashi nee Abureme. She died in United States of America. She has in the last three years battled with cancer. She gave a good fight until she finally succumbed yesterday. She is survived by her husband of 33 years, 4 children, her mother, brother, sisters and numerous relatives. We ask for prayers for her.”

Meanwhile, torrents of condolences are already coming in, even as Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, have sent very emotional condolence message to Keshi, among others.