₦airaland Forum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnPTHkcmjoU

I will never advise my son to play for this country— Ex-Super Eagles Defender, Taribo West says as he Laments Neglect of Late Peter Rufai, Slams NFF and Lagos State at Funeral

Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, could not hold back his emotions on Friday as he spoke to journalists at the funeral of ex-Nigeria goalkeeper, Peter Rufai.

The ex-Inter Milan star, visibly shaken, expressed deep grief over the treatment meted out to Rufai after retirement, describing it as a sh@meful reflection of how Nigeria handles its football heroes.

“I share the p@ins and burdens with the Rufai family,” West said. “It is dishe@rtening that Lagos State and the Nigerian Football Federation dropped the buck on them.

This is not how a nation should treat those who gave everything on the field.”

Struggling to keep his emotions in check, West recounted how the news of Rufai’s de@th hit him harder than the loss of his own parents.

“When my mother passed, I didn’t shed tears. When my father d+ed in my hands, I didn’t cry.

But when Rufai d+ed, I had goosebumps and tears rolled down my cheeks. What kind of nation treats its heroes like this?”

The former defender accused football authorities of neglect, pointing to similar cases of late Nigerian stars Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha, all of whom, he said, were abandoned in their final years.

“Imagine a family crying and begging among themselves just to raise money to bury a national hero.

That is m@dness,” West fumed. “With this kind of example, I would never advise my son to play for this country. Do we even have a football federation in this Nigeria?”

Taribo West ended his remarks by urging authorities to wake up to their responsibilities in honoring and supporting retired players who s@crificed for the country.

by Julie Sports Radio Brila FM

Nawaoooo, it's well oooo. Why's Nigeria government not honouring their heroes?

He obviously said the truth. Sadly, people would come and criticize him for making such comment. But deepd own, they wouldn't allow their child to play for Nigeria either.

We saw how it went with the person that designed the national flag gan gan... If not lately that people started dragging the governments, them for no shake body.

It is a shame. If you speak the truth you will die if you don't you will die. I respect you for saying the truth to power @Taribo West.

Dijita:
It is a shame. If you speak the truth you will die if you don't you will die. I respect you for saying the truth to power @Taribo West.

funny enough, this is not the first time, Nigeria government have been treating our heroes bad in bad way.

Taribo should stop talking nonsense none of you play for Nigeria for free and you forget the opportunity it was created for you in outside Nigeria?

Don't be ingrate many of your mates were disappointed when you were narrowly picked to play for Nigeria.

Yinmu..playing for Nigeria and your talent Made you what you are today.

But these guys made some money na, why are some of them looking this way? Make Una forget all this talk of " I played/represented Nigeria, Nigeria suppose look after me" we all represent Nigeria in different ways... Civil Servant dey represent Nigeria, Teachers dey represent Nigeria, entrepreneurs dey represent Nigeria in their own ways...

I don't think they owe you when you represent the badge.

He was there when Nigeria needed him.
Nigeria deserted him towards his end and after. What a country!

Rest on, Dodo Mayana.

Was Peter Rufai not remunerated during his service to the nation?

Why this feeding bottle mentality, soon you'll be having the wafcon winners who were paid 100k dollars and given a flat each in Abuja thinking Nigeria owes them something.

He rejected appointment as the supervisor eagles national team goalkeeper coach despite his legendary status!

What else do you need from NFF. Stop desecrating his memory

ZOO

Formal respect should be accorded by the FA.

Nevertheless, you all made money and lived a great life.

Pull together as peers and bury your associate with full respect.

As a group, you should be able to lay your compadre to glory without much controversy.

johnmartus:
Taribo should stop talking nonsense none of you play for Nigeria for free and you forget the opportunity it was created for you in outside Nigeria?

Don't be ingrate many of your mates were disappointed when you were narrowly picked to play for Nigeria.

You must be a Tinubu supporter

Commentor:
Formal respect should be accorded by the FA.

Nevertheless, you all made money and lived a great life.

Pull together as peers and bury your associate with full respect.

As a group, you should be able to lay your compadre to glory without much controversy.

Rufai was more than just a national player, he was a National Icon

SalamRushdie:
Rufai was more than just a national player, he was a National Icon

No doubt.

Even you, or Davido or someone of prominence can take up his costs.

Point I'm making is that it is everyone's responsibility which typically means no one's.

May his soul rest in peace.

😢

The same people who condemned President Tinubu’s $100k gift to the victorious Super Falcons and D’Tigress are the same people blaming Nigeria on this thread.

Until we stop worshipping our oppressors and deal with their senseless followers, everyone will pay the heavy price of identifying as a Nigerian.

press9jatv:
Nawaoooo, it's well oooo. Why's Nigeria government not honouring their heroes?

Tell me where in the world where the government is responsible for you simply because you won a soccer tournament?

What happened to the monies they made as professionals? Is the govt responsible for an extravagant lifestyle or poor choices after football?

Peter Rufai has a career earning forex for 13 years
Taribo west had a career playing for the 2 of top teams in Italy at the peak of Italian football and a career earning forex for 14years. If they failed to manage their finances, that is on them

Hehe the same Taribo that was vibrating in tongues for Tinubu to win elections? U cant eat ur cake and have it bro. Life doesnt change by prayer or wishes it only changes by the choices u make

seunmsg:
The same people who condemned President Tinubu’s $100k gift to the victorious Super Falcons and D’Tigress are the same people blaming Nigeria on this thread.

You dey mind Nigerians? always talking from both sides of the mouth

He has his already for saying all this thing the fact that our government need to do more to support x players even currently players

Shut it there.
Nigeria doesn't even need your son. It is shameful that footballers will collect dollars and pounds while playing, buy watches worth 50 million, expensive clothes, drinks, waste money on girls without planning for their old age.
When you represented Nigeria, did you do it for free? Were you not paid thousands of dollars for representing the country? Imagine mikel or oshimen complaining about the country not catering for them later.

johnmartus:
Taribo should stop talking nonsense none of you play for Nigeria for free and you forget the opportunity it was created for you in outside Nigeria?

Don't be ingrate many of your mates were disappointed when you were narrowly picked to play for Nigeria.

Nothing but the truth my brother, it's disgusting.


These Super Eagles players are too fond of forming abi claiming to be Nigeria's heroes as if they played for Nigeria free of charge


Whereas they even lobbied and bribed NFF officials so that their name can be included on Super Eagles squad to give them international exposure.

They misused their opportunities when they were young. Tell me if Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zidane, etc will expect their countries to take over their responsibilities just because they played in their national football teams.


All these footballers, athletes, actors and entertainers in Nigeria should stop this their foolish entitlement mentality as if they played for Nigeria free of charge, it's really nauseating to hear them complain all the time. They worked for their money, it's a paid and celebrated profession just like Doctors, Nurses, Civil servants, Teachers, Lecturers, etc who worked and got paid for their job as footballers.


Hero my foot.


How did you guys became Nigeria's heroes?


The only person Nigeria ought to celebrate as hero is any President that leads Nigeria out of the woods we are in and put Nigeria on the pathway to national progress by making great policies and enforcing them.



Policies like:

1.) Complete electoral reform that will make our elections free and fair to at least 80%

2.) Complete restructuring of Nigeria using the existing 6 geopolitical zones or 36 states as template where every state or region control their resources and security and remit a certain percentage to the central/federal government that will focus on foreign affairs, border control, external security, etc

3.) End the nationwide insecurity ravaging virtually all the 36 states in Nigeria and make traveling by road safe again like it was in the early 2000s

Even Tinubu was not waiting for Nigeria to make him president. H e stoIe the mandate by force lolz. If u wait for Nigeria u go wait tire

Maybe there's something planned for the family by the NFF. Or FG. Or even the Lagos State government.

how much be 2 to 5 mill that the government cant give for his burial.....
but on the other side his team mates xould have organized and done something....
my sec and uni group can comfortably raise 5mill fi need be for its members

If this speech had come from an Igbo ex footballer, r0nus here would've labelled him an enemy of Nigeria.

But, since it came from a yoruba ex footballer, see how this thread just dry.