Sunshine Stars’ long-serving captain, Sunday Abe, has retired from football after 18 years as a professional.
The 33-year-old defender announced his retirement on Wednesday in Akure, Ondo State.
“After thoughtful consideration, I’m announcing my immediate retirement from professional football after about two decades of active service as a player,” Abe said on Wednesday.
He added, “I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity to have played the most part of my career as captain of my boyhood club; Sunshine Stars FC of Akure, while I won’t also forget the stint with Teuta Durres FC of Albania.
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It is also an honour to have represented Nigeria, playing the U-17 AFCON and World Cup qualifiers as well as the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt before graduating to the national U-23 team and the Super Eagles in 2010.”
The player, who already possesses two coaching certificates, also said he is prepared for more involvement in football off the field.
“No matter the circumstances, football is still part of me.
“In the last years of my active days, I have been preparing for bigger roles in the backroom as well as the boardroom and I will be ever ready to give everything off the field,” Abe stated.
“I have several plans on my list which include earning coaching and football management certificate in a reputable institution”
Abe came through the ranks of the Ondo State Football Development Committee as a youth player before he was promoted to the first team in 2006/2007.
In 2007, he was part of the Golden Eaglets team which played the U-17 AFCON and World Cup qualifiers. He, however, missed out on the World Cup which Nigeria won under the guidance of late coach Yemi Tella in South Korea owing to an injury.
Abe was also part of the Flying Eagles team in 2009 under coach Samson Siasia, featuring at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt with the likes of Odion Ighalo, Obiora Nwankwo, Dele Ajiboye, King Osanga, Rabiu Ibrahim, Gbolahan Salami, Kingsley Udoh, among others.
He was also invited to the Super Eagles under late coach Shuaibu Amodu in 2010.
In 2013, he was named Sunshine Stars captain and played 17 seasons in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
His last game for the club was their 1-0 away win over Doma United on June 19, a result that propelled the Owena Waves to safety in the Nigerian topflight.