NIGERIA: A former Super Eagles assistant coach, Fanny Amun, has said neither the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) nor the federal government is responsible for the poor living conditions of some retired football players.
Amun who guided the Golden Eaglets to victory at the FIFA U-17 Championship in Japan 1993 lent his voice following the controversial comments by ex-international Taribo West who alleged during the burial of Peter Rufai that after serving the country, they were abandoned.
However, coach Amun who spoke on Brila FM described the service of the players while they were active as trade by barter, saying the government played its role by ensuring that their needs were met.
“It was traded by barter. I always say it, when they were performing, the federation and the government was taking care of them, even me too.
“So, you don’t need to apportion blame to people. So please let us stop those drastic issues that do not make any sense.
‘It was trade by barter. They were using business class those days, paying them allowances and everything and they rendered the service very efficiently, I have no doubt about that,” he said.
Amun stressed that some retired players are drowning in bankruptcy due to the lack of planning for their retirement during their active days.
“Please, the government has been very efficient and very good to all of us. It was a privilege, we were not the best,” he said.
Daily Trust
