Nigeria: ‘It Is Not NFF Duty to Cater for Ex-Players’ By Orkula Shaagee
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday urged Nigerian players to begin to invest in their future while still playing active football, saying it is not the duty of the NFF to take care of ex-internationals.
NFF Executive Committee member, Chief Emeka Inyama, while conveying the message at the public presentation and launch of a book ‘The feast of wits and strongest’ in Abuja, also urged Nigerian Footballers Union to rise to its responsibility by ensuring that those still practicing invest in what they will fall back after retirement.
Inyama, who stated that all over the world, federations do not take responsibility for the welfare of their former players, said it will be wrong of people to blame the federation for not taking care of those that serve the country in the past.
“Many people have been blaming the NFF for not taking care of former players, and I want to state here that it is not the duty of the Federation to take care of the former players; players should use their earnings to invest in their future, and that is the practice all over the world.
“I would also take this opportunity to call on the Nigerian Footballers Union to rise to their responsibility by ensuring that those who are still playing active football invest in the available channels like pension for what they will fall back after retirement”, Inyama stated.
Speaking further, Inyama also absolves the NFF of blame over its failure to save the life of Rashidi Yekini, saying the ex-international rebuffed all efforts made by the federation to help improve his condition.
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