Peters loses life battle to cancer

Former international Yomi Peters died on wednesday after a short battle with gastric cancer.

The 74-year-old former Stationery Stores player and coach gave up the ghost at the General Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos.

“He died at 9.20am and his body has been deposited in the mortuary,” Peters’ wife, Toyin told our correspondent on Wednesday morning.

Peters was earlier diagnosed of gastric tumour but after series of tests, it was discovered that he had gastric cancer.Continue...


Peters initially had problems settling his bill at the General Hospital, until the Lagos State Government came to his rescue, with a promise to pay the bills incurred by the ex-Stores forward.

Ex-internationals had complained about the poor treatment of Peters, while in his ward at the hospital.

“How can you keep him in an ordinary room with three other heroes? He should have been kept alone in a separate room because he is a hero. If it was a politician who was in his (Peters) situation, he would have been flown abroad for treatment. But they don’t build hospitals; even the ones we have are poorly equipped,” ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper, Segun Oguns, said.

“It’s sad to lose a hero like him. Its painful for a great player in Lagos to die the way he did. Now what they are talking about is paying his bills but he is dead. If he was flown abroad, he probably would have lived another three years. If we had an effective players union, things like this won’t happen,” 1984 Africa Cup of Nations silver medallist, Clement Temile, said.

Peters played for NIgeria and Stores in the 1970s and became a household name in Lagos for his striking abilities and leadership qualities with the Adebajo Babes.

He was feared for his aerial prowess and as a coach, helped Stores reach the final of the Africa Cup Winners Cup in the early 1980s.