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Two-time Super Eagles coach, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde, says the late Teslim ‘Thunder’ remains the best footballer ever produced by Nigeria as the Balogun family celebrates the 53rd memorial anniversary of the late legend on Wednesday (today).

Balogun, a striker who played for the national team for 12 years, won the Challenge Cup five times in seven finals and was the first player to score a hat-trick in the competition in 1953.

After touring with a Nigerian select team in 1949, Balogun returned to the United Kingdom in August 1955 to sign with Peterborough United, before spending time at Skegness Town and Queens Park Rangers, where he scored three goals in 13 appearances in the Football League during the 1956/57 season.

On retirement as a footballer, Balogun, acclaimed for his ferocious shots, qualified as a professional coach and was coach of Nigeria’s football team at the 1968 Olympic Games.

Onigbinde said, “The greatest footballer Nigeria ever produced is Teslim Balogun, there’s no doubt about it. He did many things players before him, those of his time and after, and even years to come, have been unable to do with the ball.

“The greatest goal scored by any player I have seen play was by Balogun at the Olubadan Stadium in 1968 in the match between the national team, the UK Tourists, and England.” (PUNCH)

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