Musa canvasses government’s support for retired players

Ahmed Musa (Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP)

Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has urged the Federal Government to look into the plight of ex-players, some of whom, he said, are living in abject penury.

Musa said only a few of the retired players earned big money when they were active, adding that they lived a larger than life existence in their active days because of the glamour associated with the game.

Speaking during the Lagos launch of the ‘Let’s Do It Again’ campaign, which aims to garner support for the national team’s dream of winning their fourth Africa Cup of Nations title next year in Cote d’Ivoire, Musa told Sports Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh, who was also at the event: “We need something from you that will take care of old players. I always hear people complaining that footballers make so much money and squander it; which is not true.

“We, the current players, have learnt from the past generations, because after football it seems nobody cares about you again. Some of us don’t have that privilege to go to clubs that pay big money. Some players devoted their youth to the service of the country and on retirement expect the same country to appreciate their sacrifices.

“Many retired players are suffering from diseases associated with the way they handled their bodies during their active careers. Many cannot walk well now, but the same country that adored and encouraged them to die on the pitch has abandoned them. It is not fair.”

The ‘Let’s Do It Again’ campaign, which was launched in Lagos last week, is to galvanise support for the Super Eagles ahead of the Cote d’Ivoire 2024 Africa Cup of Nations.

At the launch, which held at Alliance Francais premises in Ikoyi, the organisers urged Nigerians to drop their