Taribo West, a legend of the Super Eagles, claims that because of the government’s mistreatment of football stars and icons—which has resulted in the deaths of numerous people in recent years—he would never suggest that his son play for Nigeria.
This information was posted on X, a well-known social media site (previously Twitter).
Speaking passionately, Taribo West emphasized that Nigerian football players had done everything in their power to make the nation famous, both in his own time and in more recent years.
His words: “For me, it’s disheartening that you have the Nigeria Football Association, they drop the bulk on the family. I felt in my spirit there’s nothing to put your life for, that’s why I had to shift back so that I’ll not implode.”
He recalled his struggles without government support, including his personal losses: “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 ghost pimples on my body and every individual I was speaking to, there were tears of lamb rolling through my cheeks.”
Expressing his frustration, he added: “What kind of nation is this? With this kind of example they have shown in Shofoluwe, in Stephen Keshi, Thompson Oliha, Rashidi Yekini, I will never advise my son to put his feet for this country.”
He further questioned the state of football leadership in Nigeria: “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 and his family?”
On the struggles of players and their families, he revealed: “Could you imagine that we solicit within our group to ask for money? That is madness.”
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