‘Rufai’s family was crying for money’ — Taribo laments NFF’s ‘neglect’ of ex-internationals

Taribo West, former Super Eagles defender, said Peter Rufai’s family was “crying” and “soliciting for money” for the former national team goalkeeper. 

West spoke at Rufai’s service of songs in Lagos on Thursday.

In July, Rufai passed away at the age of 61.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said the legendary Eagles goalkeeper died after battling sickness for “some weeks”.

West said the NFF and Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) “dropped the bulk” on Rufai’s family.

He lamented the neglect of ex-internationals by sports administrators, adding that “I’ll never advise my son to put his feet for this country”.

“What kind of nation is this? With the type of example that they have shown with Shofoluwe, Stephen Keshi, Thompson Oliha, Rashidi Yekini, I’ll never advise my son to put his feet for this country,” he said.

“Do we have a football association in this country or a federation in this Lagos state that this hero, soldier, football evangelist has to be treated this way and his family.

“Could you imagine that the family would be crying to solicit within our groups, just to ask for money? It is madness.”

West and Rufai were teammates in the national team for a couple of years. The duo were both discovered by Monday Sinclair, the former Eagles head coach who died in July.

They were part of the Eagles squad at the 1999 World Cup in France.