Calvin Bassey father, Kingsley Ughelumba, has broken his silence during the defender’s strong showing at the Africa Cup of Nations.
While Bassey’s performances on the pitch for the Super Eagles have earned widespread praise, his personal life has drawn attention following revelations from his estranged father.
Ughelumba says he has been shut out of his son’s life for years and is now calling for a chance to reconnect.
A Father’s Plea: Years of Silence and Estrangement
Kingsley Ughelumba, Bassey’s biological father, has made a public appeal seeking reconciliation with his son and his other three children.
According to him, the breakdown in communication began with his separation from the children’s mother in 2008.
He claims that she denied him access to the children and changed Calvin’s surname to her maiden name out of spite.
“I had issues with the mum, out of wickedness she denied me access to my children and changed my son’s surname to her maiden name,” he told Totorinews.com.
Legal Action and the 2008 Court Order
Ughelumba says he attempted to resolve the dispute through legal means in London.
He claims the court advised them to settle the matter privately, but the children’s mother allegedly refused any reconciliation.
Since that time, he has not had regular access to his children.
Calvin Bassey Father Recounts Painful Visit to Rangers
He last saw Calvin in 2016 while the player was with Rangers FC in Scotland.
According to Ughelumba, he contacted the club and was granted a brief phone conversation with Calvin.
He says Calvin invited him to visit his residence.
However, upon arrival, he found Calvin on a call with his mother.
Ughelumba says Calvin became visibly upset and said he was going to the gym, refusing any discussion.
“I had to go back to Italy dejected,” he said. “Since then, I’ve never had access to Calvin or my other three sons.”
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Calvin Bassey Father Still Searching for Closure
Ughelumba expressed sorrow over the breakdown and said he does not understand the reason for the continued distance.
“To be candid, I don’t know the offence I committed against the mother that she should take such drastic action against me,” he concluded.
Calvin’s Response: A Different Version of Events
In a separate interview with The Athletic in December, Bassey offered his own perspective.
His account sharply contrasts with his father’s, suggesting emotional distance that began at an early age. “He’s just not in my life — we lived with him, but that was when I was really young,” Bassey said. “Since I was six, it has been Mum and us boys.”
A Symbolic Tribute Through His Jersey
At the AFCON, Calvin dropped both “Ughelumba” and “Bassey” from his jersey.
He chose instead to wear his mother’s maiden name as a gesture of gratitude. “I knew that if I got the chance to put my name on the back of a shirt, I wanted it to be my mum’s name — my way of saying thank you,” he told The Athletic.
Calvin Bassey Father at a Crossroads
Both father and son have made their versions of events public.
Each account reflects deep emotional pain and unresolved conflict.
Ughelumba speaks of being blocked from his children despite legal efforts, while Calvin recalls a childhood shaped by his mother alone.
The emotional gulf between them remains wide, with no direct contact in recent years.
As Bassey continues to impress on the international stage, his family story remains tangled in years of separation, misunderstanding, and silence.
Just like many Nigerian footballers who have excelled in European competitions, including those who have won the UEFA Champions League, Bassey’s career has the potential for great success. Check out Nigerian players who have triumphed in the UEFA Champions League.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
