Soccer followers are getting disturbed over the increasing number of footballers who are living in penury after making so much money during their active days. What is responsible for it and is government supposed to be blame for neglect? Chris Onokpegu writes
I have always position myself in such a way that people will always want to have something to do with me…”
The above assertion was made by ex-Green Eagles winger, Segun Odegbami, also known as 'Mathematical'. He was responding to accusation by some ex-internationals that governments abandoned them in time of need after sacrificing everything for the country.
Minister of Sports and chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi at a book presentation titled “Me, Football and More” written by former Green Eagles' striker, Segun Odegbami revealed that most of the Nigeria ex-international footballers are in financial distress because of their failure to plan for life after retirement during their heyday.
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He said, “This is important to those who played football recently. Some of them fall sick they cannot even foot their medical bills; some of them are homeless, some are roaming around with nothing to do and each time people keep saying government has abandoned the ex-footballers.
“My argument always is that these athletes abandoned themselves long ago: in fact, if you hear the kind of money some of these footballers earn today, Odegbami will faint, yet no sooner they stop playing they end up in poverty.”
Abdullahi added, “Certainly if Segun Odegbami can survive after football for many years, I think every sportsman, every athlete has responsibility upon himself or herself to think of life outside and beyond sports.”
“We know that players like Victor Ikpeba did not earn the kind of money these footballers and athletes earn today, yet no sooner they stopped playing, they would ascend into poverty. But, when we see people like Ikpeba, Odegbami and couple of others, we see sportsmen that have continue to re-invest themselves again and again in the system. We will always feel encouraged. Odegbami has kept himself in the system. I was a small boy, who watched him win the Nations Cup in 1980, today I'm a minister.
He further claimed that footballers can start playing football today and break their legs, but that should not be the end of life. “It is painful that when injuries or retirement comes.”
However, some still believe that there are some ex-internationals who need government attention or assistance. They claimed that somebody like Samuel Okwaraji who died while playing for his country should be given urgent attention.
Okwaraji's mother, Mrs Jane has been lamented since the death of his son. She was reported to have accused government of making empty promises. “They promised to take care of the children when Sam died because he was the family's provider but nothing was done.”
She continued, “I am so surprised that a government could make false promises and also fail to fulfill the pledges it made. The government could not feel the death of the 24-year-old boy who died labouring to bring glory to Nigeria. That is so unfair. Nigeria has disappointed me because the government promised to help train my children to any level of education and at the same time help the family but they have failed.”
Worried by the state of ex-sportsmen, the Senate backed a Bill seeking to limit membership of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF board to ex -footballers.
The Bill for an Act to Repeal the Nigerian Football Association Act Cap. N110 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Enact the Nigerian Football Federation Act 2013 to provide for football administration in Nigeria was passed for second reading.
It provides that only footballers who have been actually involved in competitive football can be members of the federation and not just organisations and establishment as it is contained in the extant act.
Some analysts however believe that those who are accusing the federal government are not sincere. They questioned if the sportsmen always forgot that the messenger who works in the government office for 30 to 35 years also work very hard to serve Nigeria.
Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Sani Lulu simply said everybody including the civil servants, journalists also need government attention. He however advised everybody including sports men to always remember that they must plan for future, while they are active in their chosen endeavours.
A soccer fan, Gbenga Akande argued that the players owe the nation gratitude for identifying them and bringing them to limelight. “When the messenger, driver, others fall ill, nobody knows or goes around crying that government has abandoned him, why must the ex-internationals do that after, where they not paid their allowances and other entitlements. Apart from Okwaraji, who amongst them played for the country without demanding for their money? Some of them on several occasions even held the country to ransom.”
Our findings revealed that some players who made it big while playing football later lived in penury. Etim Esin was a star during his days but the rape case against him forced him to leave his base in Belgium for the fear of being jailed. He later retired prematurely and he was reported to be eating from hand to mouth.
Super Eagles prolific striker, Rashidi Yekini, was said to have died in his village because of the family's inability to raise money for hospital bill. Yekini, who scored Nigerian first World Cup goal was said to have been mentally derailed before he passed on.
Yekini who played for some of the big clubs in Africa and Europe, notable amongst them is Victoria Setubal of Greece, died in penury after so many years of living in affluent.
Recently, Thompson Oliha passed on after a brief illness. Source close to him said the ex-international was living from hand to mouth. He was said to have died of malaria. Some analysts claimed if he was still playing active football, he would have gone for medical check-up in some of the best hospitals in the world.
There were speculations in some quarters that former Chelsea left-full back, Celestine Babayaro was bankrupt after making so much money even before Chelsea billionaire; Roman Abrahimovich took over the club. Despite starting football at a tender age where he made so much money, he was bankrupt. It took the recent appointment by Chelsea for him to bounce back to life.
Also not forgetting Daniel 'Da Bull' Amokachi, who was making money from football and modeling at the same time in Fenerbache, Turkey. He was alleged to have made so much money that he acquired a private plane.
The Hunters Weekly gathered that it took the quick intervention of former Nasarawa state governor, Adamu Abdullahi, for Amokachi to escape penury as he was alleged to have sold all his properties except the one in Kaduna which was also put on sale then.
The governor gave him appointment as assistant coach before being given his recent job as Super Eagles assistant coach. Opabunmi recently lost his sight due to his inability to raise money for medication.
Not happy with the way he was treated during his ordeal, Etim Esin said he would not stick his neck out for his son to play Nigeria. According to him, “My son was born in Paris. The mother is Malian. He has options to play for France and Mali if he chooses to play football. But for him to play for Nigeria, I won't stick out my neck for it. You see what I have been through.”
He claimed that his former teammates are not allowing their children to take after football because of what they went through and not rewarded. “How many ex-internationals kids are playing football? It's because of what we laid down that is affecting us. Look at Abedi Pele from Ghana. Two of his sons play for Ghana. People that should change things are not doing anything,” Esin complained.
Why some ex-internationals and sportsmen and women were battling to keep afloat, others are doing very well. Former Super Eagles winger, Finidi George was recently appointed coach of a youth team in his former club, Real Betis. The same with Sunday Oliseh before he became a television analyst. Peter Rufai is a master degree holder and handles an academy, Samson Siasia own an academy, apart from being a coach, likewise Austin Eguavoen. Stephen Keshi owns chains of businesses in the United States of America, USA, apart from being the Super Eagles coach.
Kanu Nwankwo remains one of the most successful footballers of all time with different investments scattered around the United Kingdom, UK; Holland, and some parts of Nigeria in hospitality business, medical, estate developments, amongst others. He was spotted training some young lads during his last visit to Abuja.
Bolaji declared that government has the responsibility to take care of every citizen, not only ex-internationals and advised the upcoming ones to start doing something for themselves and think of life after profession or career when they are still active. “This is the most important lesson we have to learn from Segun Odegbami authoring a book.”
Akande also believe that ex-internationals are not supposed to be burden on government; instead, they should emulate Kanu Nwankwo, who is creating employment for millions of people out there. “A word is enough for the wise,” he concluded.
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