MR Kingsley Ikenna Ughelumba, a Nigerian from Ihiala in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State of Nigeria and father of the rave-making Super Eagles defender, Calvin Bassey hopes to make amends with his son.
As a father, witnessing one’s son’s success brings immense joy, but it is also disheartening not to be able to enjoy and celebrate alongside him.
Mr Kingsley, the father of Calvin Chinedu Ughelumba (also known as Calvin Bassey), is currently facing this dilemma. Many might wonder why Nigeria’s top left-footed defender doesn’t share the same last name as his father. A piece of gathering information from an interview Kingsley gave to a Glasgow Rangers media outlet in 2020 when his son signed with the club.
Mr Kingsley revealed that there was a rift between him and Calvin’s mother. Out of malicious intent, she denied him access to all four of his sons. Despite his best efforts to reconcile, including taking the matter to court in London, she continued to bar him from seeing his children.
This unfortunate situation unfolded back in 2008 when a judge advised them to resolve their differences as a family. However, his wife persisted in denying him access to his children, resulting in his absence from their lives.
Mr Kingsley shared with Totori News that he was blessed with four sons, with Calvin being his second. The last time he saw Calvin was in 2016 when he visited him in Italy, and they took a photograph together, creating a lovely atmosphere of reunion. During that time, he had access to his children. However, along the way, their mother poisoned their hearts, leading them to harbour resentment towards him. She even went as far as changing their phone numbers so he couldn’t reach out to them as he had before.
In February 2020, Kingsley travelled from Italy to England and went directly to the Leicester City training ground to visit Calvin. He introduced himself to the officials as Calvin’s father and presented all the necessary documents to prove his paternity. After verifying his identity, the officials welcomed him warmly and questioned how Calvin would be sure that Kingsley was indeed his father. He asked them to use a specific nickname that he used to call Calvin when he was young. When they relayed the name to Calvin, he confirmed that only his father called him by that name. Realising that his father was there to see him, Calvin expressed his wishes for Kingsley to visit his home the following day.
However, upon communicating with his mother about Mr Kingsley’s presence, Calvin’s mood changed, and he informed Kingsley that he was going out, requesting him to come back another time. Since then, Calvin has not allowed his father into his house.
Mr Kingsley Ikenna Ughelumba, the father of Calvin Bassy, remains hopeful that one day he will reconcile with his sons. He believes that he has done nothing to warrant the treatment he is receiving from his ex-wife and his children, as he maintained his love and care for them throughout.
Eighteen-Eleven Media has gathered that Calvin was born in Aosta, Italy but grew up in Newham, (London’s ghetto) England.
His mother: Ebere Bassey Etim, from Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Calvin and his brothers, Elvis, Michael and Mathew changed their last name from their dad’s, Ughelumba, to their mom’s, Bassey allegedly due to the role she played in their lives growing up.
Eighteen-Eleven Media