Philip Osondu
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Philip Osondu Mast | ||
| Date of birth | 28 November 1971 | ||
| Place of birth |
Aba, Abia , Nigeria | ||
| Date of death | 12 December 2019 (aged 48) | ||
| Place of death | Namur, Belgium | ||
| Position(s) | Attacker | ||
| Youth career | |||
1988–1989 |
RSC Anderlecht | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1989–1996 |
RSC Anderlecht | 1 | (0) |
| 1990–1992 |
RWDM | 41 | (7) |
| 1994–1995 |
La Louvière | 20 | (5) |
| 1996 | Union Saint Gillis | 13 | (1) |
| 1999–2002 |
Diegem Sport | 43 | (2) |
| 2003–2004 | FC Merchtem 2000 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Philip Osondu Mast (28 November 1971 – 12 December 2019)
Career
Philip Osondu played in his native
When RWDM got Osondu, coach
In 1994 Osondu moved to second division club La Louvière, where the small and technically gifted striker scored five times in twenty matches. A season later he swapped La Louvière during the winter break for Union Saint Gillis, where he completed the rest of the season. Afterwards he played several years for Diegem Sport and FC Merchtem 2000.
Osondu, who was regarded in his own country as a great talent and also received high praise as a youth international, could never fulfill his potential in Belgium. He is often cited as one of many young Africans who went too early to go abroad.[2]
Youth International
Philip Osondu played regularly for the youth teams of Nigeria, but never reached the first team. In 1987 he participated in the World U-16 tournament in Canada. Nigeria reached the final, but then lost on penalties to the Soviet Union. Osondu got the World Cup Golden Ball as best player of the tournament.[3] In 1989 he was in the Nigeria national under-20 football team at the World Youth Championship that placed second and won silver medals in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria lost to Portugal in the final match.
Death
Philip was working in Namur and felt unwell and was then picked up by an ambulance, and taken to a hospital, but died shortly thereafter.[4][5]
References
- ^ "Ex-Golden Eaglets player, Philip Osondu is dead - P.M. News".
- ^ The Independent, 7 november 2000, "Inquiry into 'slave trade' in African footballers"
- ^ FIFA.com, FIFA U-16 World Championship Canada 1987
- ^ "Former Nigerian footballer Philip Osondu dies at 48". The Nation. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "Former U17 World Cup Golden Ball winner Osondu dies at 48". Goal. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.