Bassey’s father makes emotional plea to reunite with children after 18 years

Calvin Bassey’s father, Kingsley Ughelumba, has once again appealed for reconciliation with his four children, including the Super Eagles defender, whom he says he has been estranged from for more than 18 years.

Ughelumba attributed the long separation to a rift with the children’s mother, Ebere Bassey, and described his ongoing pain in a heartfelt plea for reunion.

He first went public about being cut off from his children two years ago and has now renewed his appeal, saying he is “dying in silence” and still hoping for reconciliation.

The Ihiala native in Anambra State said his first three sons—Elvis, Mathew, and Calvin—were born in Italy, while his youngest, Michael, was born in Ireland.

The family lived briefly in London before marital disagreements led to their separation.

“We had husband-and-wife arguments. I went to work and before I returned, she had left with the children,” Ughelumba recounted in a viral social media interview.

“She only reached out in 2017 when my children needed Nigerian passports. I provided all their documents and bought their flight tickets. I never spoke ill of her to my children.

“She has remained distant since Calvin signed for a football club.”

Bassey, who came through Leicester City’s youth system, rose to prominence after joining Rangers in 2020, where he won the Scottish

Premiership and Scottish Cup. In 2022, he moved to Ajax for €23m—the highest transfer in Rangers’ history at the time—before signing with Premier League club Fulham a year later.

The 26-year-old made his Nigeria debut in March 2022 and has since earned 43 caps.

Before reaching senior football, Bassey was often listed under his father’s surname, Ughelumba, but he later adopted his mother’s surname, crediting her for her unwavering support.

“He’s just not in my life — we lived with him when I was very young,” Bassey once said. “Since I was six, it’s been mum and us boys. I wanted my mum’s name on my jersey as a way of thanking her.”

Ughelumba recounted multiple failed attempts to reconnect with his children since 2020. He travelled from London to Leicester during COVID-19 to see Calvin but was blocked by their mother.

A brief encounter occurred after the club contacted Calvin, but the meeting ended with the defender refusing further contact.

He also revealed efforts to meet Calvin during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Abidjan, which proved unsuccessful.

“Since then, I have been dying in silence. I have no issues with my children; it’s only their mother who has made things difficult,” he said.

As of this report, Calvin Bassey had not responded to his father’s renewed appeal.