Praises have been pouring in from various sources for Nigeria and Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, who retired from football on Friday on health grounds.
Former Super Eagles’ number one Ikeme, who started the journey to the Russia 2018 World Cup with the Eagles, was diagnosed with acute leukaemia in July 2017 but entered into complete remission in June.
He announced his retirement in a statement on Wolves website.
“I spoke with the doctor and he suggested I should retire, because of the toll the treatment has taken on my body,” Ikeme said.
“He thinks it’s what is best for me and I can’t really risk trying to come back, my health is the priority. I want to be here for my children, family and friends. In the grand scheme of things with my life in danger, it’s the minimum price I have to pay to spend the rest of my time with my family.”
However, praises poured in for the 32-year-old ex-Wolves keeper with his fellow keepers hailing him.
“Having been at the club since the age of 14, Carl is far more than just a player in our eyes – he is our brother and an important part of our family,” said Wolves executive chairman Jeff Shi.
“When Carl came to tell us (with) his news, yes there was sadness, but also great happiness to see him so healthy and hungry for the opportunities that lay ahead of him.
“Carl is strong, a fighter, something he has proven in his playing career and also during what has been a very challenging time for him, so I have no doubt he will be a success in whatever he does next. We wish Carl all the very best for the future, but remind him he will always remain a part of the Wolves family.”
Goalkeepers from various nationalities and clubs in England also praised their former colleague.
In a video clip posted on the Wolves Twitter handle, while some of the players sang to the tune of the famous Cuban song ‘Guantanamera’ to render ‘One Carl Ikeme, there is only one Carl Ikeme’, others only chanted the phrase.
Some of the keepers in the video are Iker Casillas, Petr Cech, David Seaman, Joe Hart, Boaz Myhill, Mike Stowell, Adam Federici, Walter Zenger and Mark Schwarzer
Others are Asmir Begovic, Tomasz Kuszczak, Jack Ruddy, Andreas Sondergaard, David Stockdale, Will Norris and Lukasz Fabianski.
Ikeme was in goal for Nigeria’s first three matches of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. His first cap was in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Tanzania in Dar es Salaam in September 2015.