March 01, (THEWILL) – Eddie Dombraye, a former Super Eagles player and current Lobi Stars of Makurdi coach, has revealed that his wife and son are caught up in Ukraine’s continuing conflict.
Dombraye disclosed that his wife and five-year-old son are stranded at a train station in Ukraine, attempting to reach Poland as the invasion continues in the Russian attack.
Thousands of foreigners and Ukrainians have sought to sneak into neighboring countries, notably Poland since Russia’s war on Ukraine began last Thursday.
“They were supposed to catch the train from Boryspil which is about 15 kilometers away from Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, but the train was cancelled. They are currently looking for a different alternative,” Dombraye said.
The coach stated that he lived in Ukraine with his family before being offered the position in the dugout of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club Lobi Stars in September 2021.
He stated that his family – wife and two children – were supposed to join him in Nigeria on Sunday, but the crisis worsened and they were unable to do so. One of his children, who has a Polish passport, is also in Poland and was supposed to accompany him.
“I have two kids and one of them is in Poland. He is a Polish citizen while the other one who is 5-year-old is currently with my wife.
“I followed the crisis on CNN since the first day it started. My wife and I thought the war will not escalate as we never anticipated it was ever going to happen. Even my wife said there would be no fight or war. Now, she is blaming herself and I am also blaming myself, wishing they had relocated earlier.
“The worst part of it is that she has a Nigeria visa already. She was supposed to return as her flight originally was supposed to be yesterday to Nigeria, so, everything is so painful.
“We were both residing there. I have lived there since 2002. I based there like a dual citizen but moved down to Nigeria when I got the job as Lobi Star head coach in Nigeria. I have always wanted to come to Nigeria to coach. so, when I returned to Nigeria, I asked my wife to hold on for a few months until I am properly settled in the new space.
“Their flight was supposed to be yesterday. I returned to Nigeria on 6th of September 2021 as Lobi Stars football coach of Makurdi in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).”
He bemoaned the circumstances that they have found themselves and stated that his inability to assist his family at the present is weighing heavily on him, even though, in his managerial duties with his employers and players, he tries to maintain a positive demeanor.
“As a football coach, I am trying to put on a brave face when I go out to meet my players but when I am indoors, it’s a different thing. It’s not like I am crying but I am feeling bad because I can’t actually do anything. With my 5-year-old kid trapped in a crisis area and I can’t help, It’s very bad. That is the worst thing to happen to any parent.
“Yesterday, they were at home and today we decided to board the train that will take them to Lviv, a border town close to Poland so that my 18-year-old son who lives in Poland as a citizen would pick them up but the train was cancelled. They are currently looking for other alternatives to get there.
“I am worried because getting there is about 12 hours and it’s not a fast train. it’s now all these locomotive trains and I am worried about their safety while on the way. Right now, they are at the train station.”
Dombraye played in Nigeria, Ukraine, and Poland before becoming a coach with Ukrainian club Arsenal Kiev, a position he held before returning to Nigeria. He was capped once by the Super Eagles and played in the 1999 World Youth Championship hosted by Nigeria.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
