The death has been announced in Surulere Lagos of Mr Tunde Balogun (Àrá), aged 67 years.
Tunde was born February 16, 1955 and attended St Luke’s Demonstration School at Molete, Ibadan where he finished in 1966 before proceeding to Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo and finished in 1972, the year his father passed away.
For his Advance Level education, he went to Comprehensive High School, Aiyetoro, then to Government College, Ibadan, from where he graduated in 1974.
During this time, he played for The Western State Academicals soccer team where he showcased his football prowess.
He later secured scholaship from Howard University in the United States of America. There, he studied geology.
On his return to Nigeria, because of the passion he had for football, he played for Water Corporation and Housing Corporation football clubs, both in Ibadan.
Tunde was a gentle, kind and pragmatic individual who put the interest of others at heart.
In his playing days, he was a great footballer with unique body swerving skills which left many defenders on their backside and so, were always reluctant to tackle him.
Apart from soccer, he was a great long distance runner, particularly in 400 metres, where he also excelled.
Tunde Teslim-Balogun was well known to be a personality of impeccable character with high sense of humility and generosity.
Though Tunde Teslim-Balogun was born in Ibadan, he hailed from Lagos Island in Lagos state. He was born at the time his father – Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun was a soccer idol reigning across Nigeria, West Africa and internationally.
He was nicknamed ‘Ara’, meaning ‘thunder’ to describe his thunderous kicks at goal like his father in his playing days.
With his nationally aclaimed exemplary display of soccer, he was selected to captain the Western State Academicals that played with their Ghanian counterparts in Accra, at the tail end of his HSC studies.
His presence as a student in Olivet Heights in Oyo boosted the school’s performance in the Principals’ Cup Football Competition among secondary schools in Western State then.
The climax at that prestigious school Soccer days was his superlative performance that propelled GCI to the final of the Western State Principals’ Cup Football Competition played at Liberty Stadium in Ibadan in 1973.
He left behind soccer talented brothers and sister; namely Tokunbo, Kayode, Olamide, Ajibola, Iyabode, Bioye, and Wole.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.
Fondly Remembered by family and friends
