Former Super Eagles defender Taribo West has lamented the neglect of ex-internationals by sports administrators, stressing that “I’ll never advise my son to put his feet for this country”.
The ex-Inter Milan star who could not hold back his emotions during the funeral rites of late goalkeeper Peter Rufai slammed both Lagos State and the Nigerian Football Association for neglecting the family of the late football legend
According to him, the way Nigerian football treats its heroes after death is heartbreaking.
He compared Rufai’s case to the sad stories of Stephen Keshi, Thompson Oleha and Rasheed Yekini, all late Super Eagles legends.”.
“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 for this country,” he said.
“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.”
West and Rufai were teammates in the national team for a couple of years. The duo were both discovered by Monday Sinclair, the former Eagles head coach who died in July.
They were part of the Eagles squad at the 1999 World Cup in France
