A former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, has blasted the Nigeria Football Federation and Lagos State Government for allegedly abandoning the family of late goalkeeper, Peter Rufai.
He recently expressed disappointment over the neglect of Nigerian football heroes as soon as they hang up their boots.
Speaking at Rufai’s burial in a video posted by News Central, Taribo revealed that despite the existence of the federal and state governments, it is sad to see footballers who risked their bodies for the country getting ignored until their death.
According to him, he cannot understand how a nation can completely neglect its heroes instead of taking proper care of them and cherishing their legacies.
“It’s disheartening that you have Lagos State, you have the Nigerian Football Association. They drop the bulk on the family. I felt in my spirit that there is nothing to put your life for. That’s why I say I have to shift back so that I will not implode. It’s grieving.
My mother passed on. I never shed tears. My father passed on in my hands. I never shed tears. When Rufai passed on, I had goose pimples on my body. And every individual I’m speaking to, there were tears rolling down my cheeks. What kind of nation is this?” he said.
He further recalled identical situations with late football stars like Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha, stressing that the treatment of ex-players discouraged him from encouraging his kids to serve Nigeria through football.
Taribo concluded by saying that the late Rufai’s family regularly solicited contributions in online groups to take care of their loved one.
“With this kind of example, I will never advise even my son to put his feet for this country. Send me out! Do we have a Football Federation or do we have a Football Association in this Lagos State? That this hero, this soldier, this football evangelist, has to be treated this way in his family.
Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit in within our groups to ask for money? That is madness. Look, please let me go. I don’t want to pour my heart,” he added.
