“Please Forgive Me”: Calvin Bassey’s Father Breaks 18-Year Silence, Begs For Reunion With His Sons

The father of Super Eagles and Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has made an emotional public appeal, pleading with Nigerians and his estranged wife to help him reconnect with his children after nearly two decades of separation.
Speaking during a TikTok live session with influencer Hellen Ati, Kingsley Ikenna Ughelumba, who identified himself as Bassey’s father, said he has been denied access to his sons for 18 years following a prolonged family dispute.
Visibly emotional, Ughelumba asked for forgiveness, saying he was ready to make peace for the sake of his children.
“Please Nigerians should help me. Wherever I must have wronged my wife, she should please forgive me so I can have access to my children,” he pleaded.
He recounted a painful encounter while Calvin was playing for Leicester City, saying he once drove from London to Leicester—not because of his son’s growing football fame, but simply to see his first child.
“I had no access to him. I didn’t even have his phone number. Their mother had changed everything about them,” he said.
According to Ughelumba, Leicester City officials received him warmly and helped facilitate contact.
“I told them to call him ‘Bigi’ so he would know it was me,” he explained. “He spoke to me and gave me an address. When I got to his house and he saw me, he picked up his phone and called his mother. After that, his attitude changed completely.”
He claimed Calvin became visibly upset, told him to speak quickly, and then asked him to leave.
Ughelumba further alleged that the breakdown in communication followed his decision to return to Italy years ago, after which he said all access to his sons was cut off.
The emotional appeal has triggered mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians expressing sympathy for his plight, while others questioned the timing and credibility of his claims, especially given Calvin Bassey’s current success on the international stage.
As the story continues to trend, it has reignited conversations around family estrangement, parental access, and reconciliation, with many calling for compassion while urging caution until all sides are heard.