Pinnick, Rohr visit Ikeme
Pius Ayinor
The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick and Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has Super Eagles goalkeeper Carl Ikeme who has been diagnosed with acute leukaemia, reports Extrasportsnigeria.com.
The Nigeria federation released a photo of the goalkeeper and the Nigerian officials via its Twitter confirming the Thursday visit in London. The visit follows initial support messages from Pinnick, Nigerians and other footballers from across the world back the Wolves goalkeeper to recover fully.
Immediately the news broke out, Pinnick tweeted in support, “We at the @thenff heard, with heavy hearts, the devastating news of Super Eagles goalie, Carl Ikeme’s diagnosis of acute leukaemia. As devastating as this is, we also know @Carl_Ikeme possesses the fighting spirit associated with Nigerians. We are behind Carl completely. We believe this strength will see @Carl_Ikeme through. Stay strong @Carl_Ikeme and have faith. You will beat this like a champion.”
In support of Ikeme, Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea posted on his Twitter handle, “All goalkeepers and the football family are with you!”
Nigeria Basketball Federation president MusaKida said, “Any news that is not helpful to any federation in Nigeria touches us all and indeed this one on Ikeme touches not on Nigerians but truly across humanity. The world is still battling to have a permanent cure for cancer and so we are very emotionally when a loved one is hit by it.
“But I say this believing that Carl will come out of this stronger.”
On July 6 Wolves announced that goalkeeper Carl Ikeme was to begin chemotherapy after being diagnosed with acute leukaemia. The Championship club said Ikeme, 31, returned “abnormal blood tests” during pre-season testing and further checks confirmed the diagnosis.
Ikeme has been with Wolves for his entire career, making more than 200 appearances for Wanderers. Thirty-three of those came last season, having previously been in the team that won the League One title in 2013-14.