Govt, NFF abandoned Peter Rufia; I’ll never advise my son to play for Nigeria, Taribo West fumes
Former Super Eagles defender Taribo West has said he would never advise his son to play for Nigeria, berating the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Lagos State government for abandoning the family of late goalkeeper Peter “Dodo Mayana” Rufai.
West, a former Inter Milan defender, spoke at the burial of his teammate Dodo Mayana in Lagos on Friday.
“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,” West said.
He added: “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.”
Recalling how other Super Eagles legends Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha were all abandoned, West lamented: “What kind of nation is this?”
“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,” West said.
On July 3, Dodo Mayana, the first-choice goalkeeper who manned the goalpost as the Super Eagles won the 1994 African Cup of Nations, died at the age of 61.
Dodo Mayana started his professional career with Stationery Stores in 1980. The legendary keeper earned 65 caps for the Super Eagles, guarding the goalpost for Nigeria in two FIFA World Cups in 1994 and 1998.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Heading 3
Terror group Ansaru plots mass abduction of schoolchildren, churchgoers as human shields
The sources added that the group said the unidentified spies were leaking their operational secrets to the military which intercepts its communication.
Anti-Corruption
Property forfeiture case against ex-Bayelsa governor Timipre Sylva adjourned
The affected assets are located across high-value areas in Abuja.
Anti-Corruption
Edo POS operator jailed for spending N21.9 million First Bank mistakenly credited to his account
Mr Nwabuisi claimed he believed the money was a benefit arising from his operation of a point-of-sale (POS) business with the bank.
NationWide
FRSC intercepts 1,600 fake number plates, records 6,454 violations
The FRSC boss further assured Nigerians that Operation GUDUMA would be sustained and progressively expanded to other states of the federation.
Africa
DR Congo sentences 66 soldiers to death for cowardice, disobeying military orders
The soldiers were among 71 officers tried by a military court in Walikale, North Kivu province.
Abuja
Dry Season: FCT residents raise concerns over fire hazards, heat
Mr Clement advised farmers and other residents to adopt safer methods of clearing farmlands.
