What kind of nation is this? – Taribo West slams Nigeria over Peter Rufai’s treatment
By Jeffrey Agbo
Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, has criticised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Lagos State Football Association (LSFA), accusing them of abandoning late goalkeeper Peter Rufai and his family.
Speaking at Rufai’s service of songs held in Lagos on Thursday, West revealed that the family of the ex-international had to seek financial help during his illness.
“Could you imagine that the family would be crying to solicit within our groups, just to ask for money? It is madness,” he lamented.
Rufai, who died in July at the age of 61, was described by the NFF as having battled an illness for “some weeks” before his passing.
West said the football authorities “dropped the bulk” on Rufai’s family and condemned what he called the neglect of Nigerian football 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,” he added.
West and Rufai, both discovered by the late coach Monday Sinclair, were teammates in the Super Eagles for years. They also featured together at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.
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