From cash gifts running into millions of naira to houses and national honours, footballers have enjoyed perks rarely extended to other categories of Nigerians.
By AZUKA ONWUKA
Nigeria’s ex-international, Taribo West, stirred the hornet’s nest last week at the funeral rites of former Super Eagles’ captain and goalkeeper, Peter Rufai. In a viral interview, West blamed the Nigerian Football Federation and the Lagos State Football Association for abandoning Rufai and the family.
West said inter alia: “What kind of nation is this? With the type of example that they have shown with Shofoluwe, Stephen Keshi, Thompson Oliha, Rashidi Yekini, I’ll never advise my son to put his feet (sic) for this country. Do we have a football association in this country or a federation in this Lagos State that this hero, soldier, football evangelist has to be treated this way and his family? Could you imagine that the family would be crying to solicit within our groups, just to ask for money? It is madness.”
His comments sparked a fresh debate about the welfare of Nigerian players, raising a long-standing question: “Why do Nigerian footballers often assume that the nation owes them lifelong financial support, even after they have retired?” This sense of entitlement deserves to be x-rayed, especially when placed side by side with the treatment of other professionals who also serve Nigeria with distinction, like soldiers, police officers, healthcare workers, firefighters, and teachers. Many of these professionals even give their lives without ever receiving the type of attention and benefits showered on sportsmen and women.
Anytime a footballer is ill, deceased or faced with a financial burden, a narrative is spread that footballers “sacrifice” for the nation but are abandoned to wallow in penury. But there is no truth in this narrative. Nigerian internationals are paid for every game they play. Bonuses are structured for wins, draws, and qualification stages of tournaments. Beyond that, they have also received substantial financial and material rewards whenever they bring home laurels. From cash gifts running into millions of naira to houses and national honours, footballers have enjoyed perks rarely extended to other categories of Nigerians. These gifts don’t just come from the Federal Government. State governments, companies, and individuals shower gifts in cash and kind on the footballers.
For example, the 1994 Super Eagles team that won the Africa Cup of Nations and qualified for the World Cup received cars, houses, and national honours. Rufai was the goalkeeper, while Stephen Keshi was the captain. The victorious 2013 AFCON-winning team coached by Keshi was rewarded with millions in cash and property allocations. In late July, the Super Falcons each received $100,000, a house and national honour from the President for winning the WAFCON. Early this month, the female basketball team, D’Tigress, won the AfroBasket and received the same $100,000 and other gifts. Banks and other groups also gave them gifts.