Peter ‘Apo’ Fregene, the former Nigerian national team goalkeeper, is in critical condition at Obule Medical Centre in Sapele, Delta State, and urgently requires financial assistance for his transfer to Delta State University Teaching Hospital in Oghara.
The 1968 Olympian has been battling serious health issues, raising concerns within Nigeria’s sports community. Dr. Olusegun Odegbami, a fellow sports legend and former captain of the Super Eagles, shared Fregene’s situation through a WhatsApp message, expressing his frustration over the lack of support for retired athletes. He highlighted the pressing need for a welfare scheme to ensure proper healthcare for aging sports figures.
Odegbami stated, “Fregene requires immediate medical attention at Oghara Teaching Hospital but is hindered by financial constraints.” He also shared a distressing image of Fregene from the hospital, emphasizing the dire situation faced by many retired athletes in Nigeria.
“I feel frustrated publishing this ‘horror’ picture, wishing I could assist a colleague without resorting to public appeals. We must have exhausted our goodwill with prominent Nigerians who have previously come to the aid of suffering sports heroes,” Odegbami lamented.
He called for the establishment of a welfare scheme to provide ongoing support for both active and retired athletes, arguing that such initiatives do not require complex solutions—just will, dedication, and integrity.
“The number of retired sports heroes struggling with poverty and neglect is increasing. Their situations are often grim, and government support for sports remains a low priority,” he added.
Fregene remains at the hospital, awaiting help for his ambulance transfer to Oghara Teaching Hospital. While he has received support in the past, including from Globacom, he currently relies on the generosity of friends and supporters, including Tony Ojesina, who has donated funds for the ambulance service.
