Former Green Eagles goalkeeper, Emma Okala, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and football administrators to prioritise the welfare of ex-players and coaches.
Okala, who made this plea on Monday, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu that Nigerians should not just stop at mourning the departed ex-players.
He said the NFF and football administrators would pour extensive encomiums on a departed hero but they should also try to recognise and care for the hero while he was alive.
“How can we replace two great giants of the Nigeria football – Stephen Keshi and Shuaibu Amodu, who passed on just within few days intervals?
“Look at the hardworking Amodu, I am sure that the NFF is till owing him some allowances.
“I know that those people, who failed to give him what was due to him while he was alive, are now pouring resounding encomiums on him. This is regrettable,’’ he said.
Okala, who had been a goalkeeper coach for various national teams, noted that the welfare of ex-players and coaches must be sacrosanct.
This, according to him, is necessary, if the football sector, its administrators and lovers are to be taken serious.
“In other countries, heroes and legends are celebrated for life; just like the case of the late boxing icon, Mohammad Ali,’’ he added.