₦airaland Forum

Taribo West’s Salary in 1999 Emerges After Criticising FG for Abandoning Rufai, Others.

Former Super Eagles defender Taribo West has stirred public debate with his emotional remarks about the Federal Government's supposed neglect of Nigeria’s retired football stars.

Taribo West, who played for AC Milan and Inter Milan in 1999, accused authorities of ignoring ex-footballers during their struggles. He cited the recent deaths of Peter Rufai and Christian Chukwu to illustrate his concerns.

Rufai, a former goalkeeper for the national team, died in Lagos last month after battling a long-term illness. His death occurred shortly after that of Christian Chukwu, another ex-Super Eagles captain and coach.

Rufai was buried on August 22, 2025, following a funeral mass, though controversy surrounded how the funeral was handled, raising concerns among former players.

West strongly criticized the lack of government support for iconic figures such as Stephen Keshi, Chukwu, and Rufai after their retirements. Fellow former players Augustine Eguavoen and Samson Siasia backed West’s claims and also blamed the authorities for failing to assist with Rufai’s funeral expenses.

In its defense, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) released an official statement asserting that it had financially supported the families of both deceased players.

Meanwhile, online discussions surfaced regarding West’s career earnings, prompting various public reactions.

Reports from All Africa and PM News revealed that West earned £1.24 million (₦193 million) during his 1999 season at AC Milan—placing him among the highest-paid players globally at the time. Adjusted to the current exchange rate, this amounts to ₦2.7 billion.

While many people agreed with West’s criticism of the government, others believed his substantial past income should have made government aid unnecessary.

Talk and make sense out of it.
Leave government alone and develop yourself.

What has his salary at club level had to do with the NFF not doing enough for ex players who fought to put the country name on global list ?

And can we see what Rufai salary was as at then

Reno Omokri has berated footballers, entertainers and artistes who end up being broke in their old age and decide to blame the government for it.

According to him, having such a mentally is tantamount to mental laziness.


In a post shared on his X handle, Reno wrote

‘’Footballers Can't Enjoy The Proceeds of Their Success Alone and Then Outsource Their Failure To Society

Sportsmen, athletes, entertainers, and artists are not the responsibility of the government or society, except where they become civil servants, in which case they are entitled to a pension according to their terms of service.

An example would be Joe Lasisi, a staff of the Nigerian Customs Service, who was paid salaries, benefits and entitlements, even though he earned his own personal money from professional boxing.

It is regrettable if some national icons die broke or broken, however, responsibility for their end state should not shift from them to the public.

When and if they perform national assignments, they should be paid. If they are not paid, I recall that the public always fights for them until they do. Beyond their due payments, they often get gifts of money or property from an appreciative country after winning Mundials and tournaments.

Thereafter, what they do with those monies and property, as well as the largesse they get from their professional lives, is their business. And naturally, they do not share such payments with the government or the public. In fact, many of them do not even pay taxes in Nigeria.

To then grow old in poverty and blame the government or society, either by themselves or through their friends and family, is tantamount to mental laziness and unawareness of how the world works.

Sportspeople, athletes, entertainers, and artists also go broke in Europe, America, Canada and Australia. None of them blame the governments of those nations or even the public.

For example, and please fact-check me: Paul Gascoigne, a former English professional football player who played for England, is broke and suffering from depression after losing his £20 million fortune. Neither he nor his family have blamed anyone—Ditto for Trevor Sinclair.

It would amount to making themselves further objects of ridicule.

Such an entitled mentality means that persons who think like this do not understand how life works and are immature. In truth, they ought to have been placed under the care of persons who understood better how to manage their success and finances and prepare them for retirement.

You can't enjoy your success alone and then want to outsource your failure to society."

Some of them earned well but there were reports of slave contracts of many African players back then. Ia like many of them didnt have education about legal rights and contractual details.
All fingers are not equal afterall.
The leading cause of earlier elimination from tournaments then was money. Corrupt media men and football administrators/officials always robbing the team blind.

Maxymilliano:
What has his salary at club level had to do with the NFF not doing enough for ex players who fought to put the country name on global list ?

And can we see what Rufai salary was as at then

Asin Nigerians just funny at times ooo

Yet they want the current set of players to die for the country with this sort of mindset

These guys practically took football as war then, with life threatening injuries, constantly keeping fit so the country can be put in the world map and yet ordinary support them after retirement na him be problem

Nollywood actors and local musicians will soon be asking Government for retirement benefits too. They may even ask Govt to take over the responsibility of their kids after retirement. Were Taribo and his colleagues owed their bonuses whenever they come home to play during their active years?. If only you knew how powerful these players were during their playing days. That's why I really love what the President is doing, make sure their bonuses and rewards are given to them now, let them do whatever they want with it, so that when they retire, they won't have any entitlement mentality.

So all these western countries that rehabilitate and employ their highly paid players when these players makes mistakes in life are fools abi?


😭😭😭😭😭

ambale:
Asin Nigerians just funny at times ooo

Yet they want the current set of players to die for the country with this sort of mindset

These guys practically took football as war then, with life threatening injuries, constantly keeping fit so the country can be put in the world map and yet ordinary support them after retirement na him be problem

And they played for the country free of charge?, dem no collect their bonuses?. Are you aware that they were paid in dollars?. Are civil servants being paid in dollars?. So after all that, Govt must take over their responsibility after retirement?. Is Nollywood actors not putting Nigeria on the map, how many artistes are crying to Govt after their career?. Abeg shift.

Were they not being paid while playing football. Was it free ?

Meaning

Wetin concern Taribo's salary with Peter Rufai?

Im coming back

Our most handsome football player don buy market with his EMPTY SENSELESS RANT. 😂😂😂😮😂. Everybody just dey abuse am right left and center .

Peter Rufai and his family have dignity o. If Taribo wants Nigerians to contribute for his well-being because he was looking so wrecked and wretched, he should speak up.

jmoore:
Wetin concern Taribo's salary with Peter Rufai?

Wetin no concern am?. No be him dey cry say they're poor and being neglected.

Smartcitizen:
So all these western countries that rehabilitate and employ their highly paid players when these players makes mistakes in life are fools abi?


😭😭😭😭😭

Rehabilitate?, Like give examples, local boy 😂

Sports, especially football, is a very short career. Irrespective of the amount of money earned within a career span, it can fizzle within fleeting moments. It was even far more difficult to have very good investment options in the 80s and 90s, unlike now. Even at that, things can go awry with one wrong decision. That said, some of the younger players then made very poor financial choices. Who would believe that Amokachie once owned an unneeded private jet?

This doesn't however negate that government and sports administrators ought to have an input on ex sportsmen welfare. If politicians who pilfer public funds at can attract government support even to the point of bankrolling their hospital bills and even burials, how much more our exsportmen who put smiles on our faces.

Thank you Reno.

When Taribo West was earning millions of dollars, did he enjoy it with us?

No.

But If he falls sick we should donate money to him. Are we his slaves?

Omo yearly o in 1999...not throughout their careers 🤥

Svoboda:
Sports, especially football, is a very short career. Irrespective of the amount of money earned within a career span, it can fizzle within fleeting moments. It was even far more difficult to have very good investment options in the 80s and 90s, unlike now. Even at that, things can go awry with one wrong decision. That said, some of the younger players then made very poor financial choices. Who would believe that Amokachie once owned an unneeded private jet?

This doesn't however negate that government and sports administrators ought to have an input on ex sportsmen welfare. If politicians who pilfer public funds at can attract government support even to the point of bankrolling their hospital bills and even burials, how much more our exsportmen who put smiles on our faces.

oga why Okocha mentioned in the paper and likes of Kanu no go broke? Why are they still billionaires?.... stop defending nonsense...#193m yearly in 1999, I guess u be genz tho,not to know how huge that was in 99..evn now more than 70% of Nigerians won't make up to #50m in their entire life time, and u here creating nonsense excuses for someone that earned 193m yearly, excluding bonuses and money earned from brands in 99😱

Svoboda:
Sports, especially football, is a very short career. Irrespective of the amount of money earned within a career span, it can fizzle within fleeting moments. It was even far more difficult to have very good investment options in the 80s and 90s, unlike now. Even at that, things can go awry with one wrong decision. That said, some of the younger players then made very poor financial choices. Who would believe that Amokachie once owned an unneeded private jet?

This doesn't however negate that government and sports administrators ought to have an input on ex sportsmen welfare. If politicians who pilfer public funds at can attract government support even to the point of bankrolling their hospital bills and even burials, how much more our exsportmen who put smiles on our faces.

Cite your examples of that, you people like opening mouth waaa.

Scarrr:
oga why Okocha ,Kanu no go broke? Why are they still billionaires?.... stop defending nonsense...#193m yearly in 1999, I guess u be genz tho,not to know how huge that was in 99

You dey mind them. They even earned as Ambassadors to the big brands

Scarrr:
oga why Okocha mentioned in the paper and likes of Kanu no go broke? Why are they still billionaires?.... stop defending nonsense...#193m yearly in 1999, I guess u be genz tho,not to know how huge that was in 99..evn now more than 70% of Nigerians won't make up to #50m in their entire life time, and u here creating nonsense excuses for someone that earned 193m yearly, excluding bonuses and money earned from brands in 99😱

No1 is that you're not sounding coherent. Secondly, you lack proper comprehension of the subject matter.

zero8zero:
Cite your examples of that, you people like opening mouth waaa.

If i don't cite examples, you call the police on me?

Svoboda:
No1 is that you're not sounding coherent. Secondly, you lack proper comprehension of the subject matter.

Mr Coherent ,NFF released an official statement asserting that it had financially supported the families of both deceased players regardless of the billions earned from their club and international career that they squandered....what else do u want , 1 week public holiday?

PM news was known for fake news
Where did they get the figure from?
Jaap Stam became the most expensive player in football history in 1998 when he transferred from PSV to Man Utd and the total fee was £10.6m.
I just checked. Taribo's movement to Inter from Auxerre was €3m in 1997 so how is he able to be earning over half of his transfer fee every year? That's a big fat lie

Maxymilliano:
What has his salary at club level had to do with the NFF not doing enough for ex players who fought to put the country name on global list ?

And can we see what Rufai salary was as at then

They're pushing the focus elsewhere.


It just goes on to say west is right to a large extent. Focus on ya growth and fo not kih yasef for pipu who wouldn't value ya efforts. If you must stress yasef, make sure there's benefit. Make sure or run o...

Masses wey no wise go take am play until pepper enter their eyes

Nairaland is always last with the news when the topic has gone cold they push it to FP.
Seun needs full-time mods, this one just closed from another work, opened his phone and sent this story that has trended for 72hrs in other platforms to front page

Wow that was very huge! That's about 16million Naira per month in 1999.

But obidients were crying when Tinubu gifted or promised the Eaglet 100k dollar. Why are they still complaining, what do Obidients really want

HYPOCRITES


After they live recklessly and mismanage their life, they'll be pushing blames