By Uzor Odigbo
Nigerian former international goalkeeper and assistant coach of the Super Eagles, Joe Erico, has died at 72 years.
Erico was an apostle of “Jogo Bonito,” an aesthetic football philosophy that is based on the tip-tap playing pattern similar to the Brazilian Samba.
Erico, popularly known as ‘Jogo Bonito Exponent,’ was a goalkeeper for Electricity Connectors of Nigeria (ECN) and former Green Eagle (now Super Eagles) of Nigeria in his playing days.
He introduced the style of play in Nigeria in the 90s’ while still the coach of Julius Berger FC aka Adewale Bridge boys.
Erico alongside the late coach Shuaibu Amodu and the late Stephen Keshi qualified the Super Eagles for the 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup, but were dismissed before the Mundial.
The former goalkeeper’s death was confirmed on Thursday by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Football Federation (NNF) has been thrown into mourning following the death of Nigeria’s ex-international goalkeeper, Joe Erico.
The news of his demise broke on Thursday mourning.
Family sources said that the flamboyant trainer of trainers and respected nurturer of talents complained of body pain and was treated for malaria, only to be found dead in his bed at dawn on Thursday.
Born Joseph Bassey Eric in the Odukpani Local Government Area in Cross River State, Erico belonged to the cast of the very best goalkeepers in the history of Nigeria’s senior football team, and served at the same period as the revered Emmanuel Okala and Eyo Essien.
He made his debut for then Green Eagles in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Zambia in Lagos in July 1973 (which Nigeria won 3-2), and then kept goal in all of Nigeria’s six matches at the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations in Ethiopia, where the Eagles finished third –
the first time Nigeria would win a medal at the AFCON.
Erico was also in goal in all of Nigeria’s pre-tournament friendlies against Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania just before the team flew to Ethiopia.
“It is another sad day for Nigerian Football. Erico was among the very best of Nigeria’s international goalkeepers and also served the country with fervour and diligence as Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles between 2001 and 2002. He will be sorely missed.
“We pray that Almighty God grant him eternal rest and also grant his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear the big loss,” NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said in Abuja.
Erico was part of the triumvirate (alongside late Amodu Shaibu and late Stephen Keshi) who were shooed in to do a rescue job for Nigeria as the ship to the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals tottered badly under Dutchman Johannes Bonfrere.
With three matches left in the campaign and a must-win mandate for all, the trio got the job done and qualified Nigeria for Korea/Japan.
They also led the team to a bronze-medal finish at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Mali early 2002.
With his death on Thursday morning, it means all members of that historic triumvirate have now passed on.