Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, said none of his son’s will play for the nation’s national team.
West who is now a pastor, at the funeral rite of his team mate, Peter Rufai in Lagos on Thursday, said the late Nigeria’s goal tender’s family had to resort to beg for money online to fund his burial.
He cited other former Super Eagles players who were poorly treated by the Nigerian government despite what they have done for the country during their playing days.
“Which kind of nation is this? With this kind of example they have shown in Shofoluwe, Stephen Keshi, Thompson Oliha, Rashidi Yekini, I will never advise even my son to put his feet for this country.
“Do we have a football federation or football association in this state that this hero, this soldier, this football evangelist has to be treated this way and his family.
“Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit within our group to ask for money. That is madness for me,” he stated.
West who also played for Inter and AC Milan, and was capped 42 times for Nigeria between 1994 and 2005, described Rufai as “a hero and soldier.”
He lamented that Super Eagles legends who passed away were treated without any honour.
The former Super Eagles defender also participated in two World Cups, in 1998 and 2002, and two African Cup of Nations tournaments.
He was equally part of the historic 1996 Olympic team that won gold in Atlanta.
Rufai died on July 3 at the age of 61 in a Lagos hospital after reportedly battling a long-term illness.
