PFAN mourns Broderick, rues poor treatment of national heroes

Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) has blamed the Federal Government’s neglect of sports heroes for the demise of the first coach to win the U-17 World Cup for the country, Sebastine Broderick.

Broderick, who won the inaugural FIFA U-16 World Cup with the Golden Eaglets in China in 1985, died yesterday morning in Benin City, Edo State, at the age of 85 years.

The late Brodrick served the country as a player and coach, competing at the 1968 Olympic Games, before leading the nation’s youth team to conquer the world at China ’85.

Chairman of PFAN’s Task Force, Harrison Jalla, told The Guardian, yesterday, that the Federal Government did not give Broderick the treatment he deserved as a national hero while he was alive.

“This was the saddest part of coach Sebastine Broderick because the man died in penury,” Jalla stated. “No help came to him from both the Federal Government and Edo State government, and that was very sad, considering the role he played in our football. The lackadaisical attitude of our government towards sports heroes ‘killed’ him.

“Broderick was down in pain for more than one year, and a responsible government would have taken over his treatment. What is wrong in flying him abroad for good medical treatment or taking him to a good hospital here in Nigeria? Nothing of such.

“Last year, former Sports Minister, Sunday Dare was in Benin City and gave Broderick N500,000. I am sure that was his personal donation, and not from the Federal Government.

Even, when he won the FIFA U-16 World Cup in 1985, the only thing Broderick got from the Federal Government was Muhammadu Buhari naming a street after him. Our football administrators did not help matters. They were busy looting our football money for