WOLVERHAMPTON: Wolver­h­ampton Wanderers and Nigeria goalkeeper Carl Ikeme retired on Friday, a month after revealing he was in complete remission from acute leukemia.

Ikeme spent the past year fighting the disease, and decided to heed medical advice that the toll of recovering was too much on his body before trying to play again. The last of his more than 200 appearances for Wolves was in March 2017.

“I spoke with the doctor and he suggested I should retire, because of the toll the treatment has taken on my body,” Ikeme told the club website.

“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.

“It’s difficult when you look back at what you’ve gone through in your football career, but 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.”

The 32-year-old Ikeme joined the club at 14, and while he missed Wolves’ promotion to the English Premier League last season, he was involved in previous promotions in 2003 and 2009.

He earned 10 caps for Nigeria, which for the recent World Cup named him as its honorary 24th team member.

Wolves executive chairman Jeff Shi said: “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.

“When Carl came to tell us 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.”

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.