The Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has said 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.
Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the presentation of a book titled "Me, Football and More" written by former Green Eagles' striker, Segun Odegbami , the minister said instead of the ex-players to wait on individuals and governments for help, they should begin to emulate people like Odegbami and try to transform themselves.
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 keeping saying government has abandoned the ex-footballer.
"My argument is always that these athletes abandoned themselves long ago: in fact some of these footballers the kind of money they earn today Odegbami will faint, yet no sooner they stop playing they end into 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."
Earlier in his remark, the Chairman of Daar Communication Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who was represented by his managing director, Mr. Tony Akiotu, commended the intellectualism of Odegbami, saying that the book would inspire the generations unborn and nourish more players to attain Odegbami's exploits.
National Mirror
We should try as much as possible not to blame people for past mistakes...It makes no sense whatsoever. Footballer is a win or lose situation.