Ripples over fallen ex-Eagles stars - Some died without getting the house promised members of the 1994 AFCON. My God!!! What a shame.

I want to serve my state and earn money to take care of my family before I fall down and die like the others. It’s about time to do something. I am making a plea to my state governor. Look at Sam Okwaraji’s statue in front of the National Stadium (Lagos). Anytime I come to the stadium, the statue reminds me of him. He died before my eyes on August 12, 1989. What happened after then?”

The above statement was made by former Super Eagles midfielder, Etim Esin, during a protest organised by former and serving footballers on the plight of the country’s retired footballers.

The protest, which had Esin, Harrison Jalla, Monday Odiaka and several other retired footballers in attendance, was held inside the National Stadium, Lagos. It was triggered by the deaths of ex-players in the last one year, the most recent being that of 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner, Thompson Oliha and Kenneth Olayombo.

Jalla, President of the National Association of Nigerian Footballers, said young footballers were involved in the protest because they needed to secure a future for them.

He also advocated for a ‘comprehensive welfare programme’ saying it would help curb life in penury for the retired players.

Jalla said, “In our football, we have people who have been reaping from where they never sowed. We have to protect the future of these young players; it’s about them because they are the future of Nigeria. If our football is still in the hands of those who are running it now, then there is no future for these young ones.

“Our own story is a very sad one. As I speak to you, we have lost about six ex-internationals in the last six months because there is no inbuilt mechanism that will cushion the effect of the welfare of players.

“What we are asking for is that 10 per cent of every income and revenue accruing to football in this country should be set aside for a comprehensive welfare programme for Nigerian footballers. We lost Thompson Oliha on Sunday and on Wednesday, Kenneth Olayombo also died. We also lost Sunny Ozogula and Jossy Lad. You saw how we lost Rashidi Yekini.”

Oliha died without getting the house promised members of the 1994 AFCON winning team while two other members of the squad, regarded as Nigeria’s golden generation, Rashidi Yekini and Uche Okafor, died in pitiable circumstances.

Yekini, Nigeria’s all-time highest goal scorer was reportedly ill for a long period of time before he died in 2012 while Okafor allegedly committed suicide in Dallas, USA. In Yekini’s case, it is widely believed that he would have survived if he was given the desired attention.

Jalla adds, “It is unfortunate that the Federal Government has failed to fulfill a pledge it made since 1994. It’s the usual promises government make and don’t keep to them and this is because of the people running our football. They have made their money and they don’t care what happens to the players.

“If you put professionals there, they will ensure the promises are fulfilled. Oliha complained to me about his house and I wrote a letter on this about two years ago. The likes of Shaibu Amodu and Christian Chukwu are still being owed by the Glass House.”

In a country notorious for its gross neglect of former sporting heroes, the list of footballers left to rue their faith after retirement keeps progressing

From the likes of goalkeeper Inuwa Lawal Rigogo- once described by former Ghanaian President, Kwame Nkrumah, as the ‘Flying Cat’ to Haruna Ilerika, Sam Nwobum, Sam Ojebode, Oliha, Olayombo and so many others, the trend is disturbing.

Presently, Atlanta 1994 Olympics gold medal winning football coach Willy Bazuaye and ex-Eagles defender, Sunday Eboigbe are down with stroke in Benin City. The duo may probably have bid the world farewell but for the intervention of the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola.

In fact, Bazuaye is reportedly bitter that “not even the Nigeria Football Association, which he served, nor his state government (Edo), looked his way.”

Former Nigerian boxing champion, Jerry Okorodudu, says the problem does not affect football alone.

Culled from the Punch

These are men and women who served this country with their talent and brought fame and prominence to this country. Today they are forgotten and left to rot while people who have never contributed anything positive to the well being of this country keep ripping the resource of the land and mounting position where the only people they serve is themselves. This is the Nigerian we have found ourselves. A country filled with Greedy leaders.