Peter Fregene bio, health condition

Peter Fregene’s age, Nigeria and club career, profile, social media, health condition, playing style, latest news

Peter Fregene is a former Nigerian goalkeeper who played for Lagos state-based clubs Stationery Stores FC and ECN.

Who is Peter Fregene? 

Full name: Peter "Apu" Fregene

Birth date: 17 May 1947

Nationality: Nigerian

Place of birth: Sapele, Delta Nigeria

Age: 75 years old (as of April 2023)

Current club: Retired 

Who is Peter Fregene married to? 

Peter Fregene is married to Augustina Fregene

Position: Goalkeeper 

Salary: Self-employed

How old is Peter Fregene 

Peter Fregene is 75 years old as of April 2023 

Peter Fregene Career 

Peter Fregene, born in Sapele, Delta State, Nigeria, played for two football clubs during his career. 

The 75-year-old represented Stationery Stores FC and ECN, both Lagos State-based clubs. Fregene won the FA Cup trophy with both teams, despite being rivals. 

Fregene is one of the foremost players of the Federation Cup, formerly known as the Challenge Cup, during his playing days for Stationery Stores and ECN. 

He was part of the 13 former stars of the Federation Cup players Lagos state government honoured in 2014. 

Peter Fregene’s Super Eagles Career 

Peter Fregene represented the Green Eagles, now the Super Eagles, in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. 

Despite playing for just two professional clubs, Fregene remains one of Nigeria’s longest-serving players, playing for the three-time African champions between the 160s to 80s Fregene was part of Nigeria’s squad between 1966 to 1983. 

Known as the Flying Cat, Fregene was Nigeria’s number one shot-stopper between 1968-1971. 

He represented Nigeria at the 1968 Olympics, playing in the country’s three games. However, Fregene failed to keep a clean sheet in any of the games, conceding nine goals as Nigeria left with just a point which came in a 3-3 draw against Brazil. 

He was also in goal for Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying campaign between 1968 and 1969, keeping one clean sheet in eight matches. 

Fregene lost his number one spot after 1971, but he was back in goal at the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations, two years after the country won its first African title. The 75-year-old kept a clean sheet as Nigeria won one and lost two of their matches.

Overall, Fregene played 14 times for Nigeria. 

Peter Fregene’s Wife 

Fregene is married to Augustina Fregene. 

Peter Fregene’s health condition 

Peter Fregene has been frail for some time now, with his condition going viral on social media earlier this year. 

According to his wife, Augustina, Peter Fregene has been sick since 2001 due to a spinal cord disorder which was operated on in 2009. 

“He [Peter Fregene] has been sick since 2001. He has Spinal cord disorder which came about as a result of stroke,” Augustina told The Crest Ng in 2019. 

Sometime in October 2001….and since then, it has been 18 years of hell…

“We had to cry out to well-meaning Nigerians and some of his friends and colleagues in their days in the national team who actually rallied round him.” 

I must say here that Chief Segun Odegbami (MON) was the first person who showed deeper concern. Odegbami linked us to the then Governor of Lagos, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN). Fashola spoke with me on phone. He then sent in two doctors who came to examine him here in Sapele from Lagos. 

“The doctors were accompanied by coach Emmanuel “Tetteh” Okonkwo an ex-international and close friend of my husband. It was on the doctors' (Dr Mrs Okagha and Dr Ali Baba) recommendation that the governor asked us to bring him to Reddington Hospital, Idowu Taylor in Victoria Island, Lagos.

“My husband underwent surgery there. All bills were footed by the then Governor, (Fashola). The surgery was successful. The surgery was done in 2009,” she added. 

Before the intervention of the Lagos government, Augustina said they took Peter Fregene to Delta State, his home town. NEPA authorities intervened during that time, taking Peter Fregene to the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital. 

“We first took him to his hometown, Aragba here in Delta State where we were administering the herbal and traditional medication to him. But due to lack of funds, we couldn’t meet up with the bills for his treatment then. This was between 2001 and 2002,” Augustina continued. 

The authorities of NEPA stepped forward to assist us in 2002 but at that point, my husband’s health has grossly gone bad.

“NEPA took us to University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan. But by the time we got to Ibadan, UCH was on strike.

 “We then met one Dr Greenfield a consultant with the UCH. He took us to his private hospital at Ringroad. We were there briefly but again, it was difficult to sort out bills despite the efforts of NEPA though the whole arrangement took a bend due to the strike in UCH. Staying in a private hospital for a week was pretty expensive and we had to return to Delta.

It was at this point that James Ibori who was then Governor of Delta State came to our rescue. Ibori took us to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). That was in 2003. The governor also took charge of everything and all expenses there. But because it was still at the early stage, the surgery was not needed.

After his treatment at the UBTH, it was again difficult for us to sustain the tempo of his treatment especially travelling from Sapele in Delta State to UBTH in Benin. Feeding, transport and medical bill were difficult for us to afford. 

“This led to a relapse in his health. All efforts to reach then-Governor Ibori proved abortive as we were told by his aides that he either travelled out or was too busy,” she added. 

Although Peter Fregene finally received help in 2009, his situation has deteriorated, with the former Green Eagles goalkeeper calling on Nigerians to come to his rescue earlier this year. 

The good news, however, is that telecommunications giant globacom responded to Fregene’s call, and has decided to support the former Green Eagles goalkeeper.