Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, has strongly criticized the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Lagos State Government over their alleged neglect of the late goalkeeper Peter Rufai’s family.
Speaking at Rufai’s burial on Friday, Taribo West expressed anger at what he described as the repeated failure of Nigerian authorities to properly honor football icons after their passing.
In a video shared by News Central on Friday, the ex-Inter Milan star lamented:
“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.
My mother died. I never shed tears. My father died in my hands. I never shed tears. When Rufai passed on, I had goose pimples on my body. And every individual I’m speaking to, there were tears rolling down my cheeks. What kind of nation is this?”
Continuing his outburst, West referenced other late football legends: “With this kind of example they have shown in (Yisa) Sofoule, Stephen Keshi, Thompson Oliya and Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory), 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 in his family.
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,” he stated.
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