Omotayo Fashola
Kingsley Ughelumba, the estranged father of Super Eagles star Calvin Bassey, has renewed his emotional plea for reconciliation with his children after nearly two decades of separation.
In a recent interview, Ughelumba revealed the deep pain of being cut off from his four sons—Elvis, Mathew, Calvin, and Michael—since marital conflicts tore the family apart in the early 2000s. The Anambra-born father fought back tears as he described years of failed attempts to reconnect.
“I’m dying in silence,” Ughelumba confessed. “When my ex-wife left with our children, I never poisoned their minds against her. I even helped with their Nigerian passports in 2017. But after Calvin’s football career took off, all communication stopped.”
The heartbroken father recounted traveling from London to Leicester during the pandemic, hoping to see Calvin during his time at Leicester City. Club officials facilitated a brief meeting, but the reunion turned sour.
“When I used his childhood nickname ‘Biggy,’ he responded at first,” Ughelumba recalled. “But after calling his mother, he became hostile and told me to leave. That rejection crushed me.”
Undeterred, Ughelumba later flew to Abidjan during AFCON 2023, securing tickets through the Nigerian Football Federation to watch his son play. Despite these efforts, face-to-face contact remained elusive.
This man claiming to be Calvin Bassey’s father begs the public to intervene with his family. But absent fathers must earn forgiveness—you left for a reason. 🤡🤡🤡 pic.twitter.com/xKL6qCbp8f
— Risi Arab Money (@OyinLadun0) January 25, 2026
Bassey’s football journey has seen remarkable success—from Rangers’ record €23m sale to Ajax in 2022, to his €22m Premier League move to Fulham. The 26-year-old defender, who switched from his father’s surname to honor his mother, has become a mainstay in Nigeria’s backline with 43 international caps.
“My mother raised us alone from age six,” Bassey previously stated. “Wearing her name on my jersey is my tribute to her sacrifices.” This sentiment underscores the complex family dynamics that continue to play out off the pitch.
