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.
Okorodudu said, “I went to the Olympics, I did well in two Commonwealth Games. I won medals; in pre-Olympics, I won silver and was named African Best Boxer of The Year in 1985 but today, what do I have to show for it?
“Davidson Andeh was a world champion, who won a gold in world boxing championship for this country as an amateur. He trained me, Charles Nwokolo and a lot of other boxers, but today, he sleeps at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
“Also in Benin, Roland Omoruyi, my Olympic captain rides okada (motorbike). It was (Lucky) Igbinedion that once took him off the street but the man has left office and Omoruyi has returned to riding okada. There are a lot of us who have nothing to show for what we did for this country.”
But the footballers have been blamed for their own problems. Some of them are seen as spendthrifts, who live luxurious lifestyles during their playing days without planning for the future.
Monday Odiaka, the Golden Boot winner at the Moscow ’85 U-20 World Cup, said they got nothing playing for the country during their time.
“We only played for the interest we had for the game and for the country; we were not given anything. In Benin Republic, I agree I was the highest paid footballer there but that’s a long time ago. I have three graduates and the fourth is in the university. I used part of that money to achieve that,” the former ACB of Lagos striker said.
Esin adds, “I might not look hungry because I am a born survivor; from gunshot to rape case, I have always survived. I made money no doubt. The military get pension on retirement but they look at us like bunch of illiterates who do not know their right from left. If you come out to tell them the truth, they will blackmail you and label you names.
“I thank God I am alive today. They should provide jobs. Everybody cannot be a coach or work in the Glass House. How many ex-internationals are in their states’ FA? It’s pathetic. It’s difficult combining education and sports. You will have to choose one.
“The commissioner of sports in my state does not even know who is Etim Esin. It’s very sad. I called the FA chairman, Effiong Johnson, when I heard of Oliha’s death but he didn’t even know Thompson Oliha.
“My regret is that my colleagues are dying in large numbers without any benefit after serving their country. If they can die with a house, they will be happy but how many footballers have houses?”
Nigeria Football Federation spokesman, Demola Olajire, however, dismissed the protest with a wave of the hand, saying the present NFF board had done its best to help footballers.
Olajire said, “The protest does not interest us. It’s not of interest to us. We cannot be commenting on people who are wanted by the police. We have othing to say about people lacking credibility.
“Take a count; which other board has employed ex-internationals in various positions than the present board? Look at all the national teams, are they not the coaches? Look at the technical committee of the NFF, are they not there? Which board has done better?
“In the Eagles, you have Stephen Keshi, Dan Amokachi, Ike Shorunmu and Emmanuel Attah. The U-23 former crew was made up of Austin Eguavoen and Ben Iroha; the Flying Eagles have Aloy Agu while Eaglets have Manu Garba, Emmanuel Amuneke, Nduka Ugbade and Emeka Amadi.
“So, it is with the female national teams. In the Technical Committee, there is Christian Chukwu, Victor Ikpeba, Austin Okocha, Graba Lawal. They are just talking trash.”
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