Fanny Amun Slams Ex-Players Who Depend On NFF

Former Super Eagles assistant coach and one-time secretary-general of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Ambassador Fanny Amun has taken a swipe at former players who depend on the soccer governing body and government for their survival after retirement.

Sports247 reports that Amun, who is fondly called ‘Transformer of Talents’ for his roles with Nigeria’s youth national teams, was speaking against a recent outburst by former Super Eagles’ defender, Taribo West about alleged neglect of late goalkeeper, Peter Rufai.

While Taribo scolded the current leaderships of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and National Sports Commission (NSC) for allegedly failing to play substantial roles in the burial of Rufai last week, Amun took a general swipe at ex-players who always look up to grants after leaving the round leather game.

He insisted that all players who featured for the Eagles at one point or the other got various lofty benefits that were due to them as national team stars, and that the officials performed their duties accordingly, which means none of them is being owed anything by the authorities.

The Japan ’93 Golden Eaglets FIFA U17 World Cup winning coach declared emphatically: “It was trade by barter. I always say it; the federation and government were taking good care of them … including me, too … at that time. So, you don’t have to continue apportioning blame to people in office.

“Let us stop those drastic issues that don’t make any sense. It was trade by barter. They were flying in business class in those days. They were paid allowances and other things.”

The football tactician-turned-admonistrator, who is now a publisher and businessman, added that all ex-internationals were treated very well during their playing days, and they should have found ways of securing their future themselves in order to continue enjoying life after football.

Amun argued further: “They rendered the service to those players very efficiently, no doubt about that. The way I am today, did anyone make me? You have to make yourself. Please, you just have to make yourself!

“Segun Odegbami is there, Adokie is there, I am there, and many others are there. Who else is there that is not top-notch? Is it the government that did it for us?”

He concluded with a verdict that many former players fail to make headway after retirement because they are not creative in money-making schemes, and they do not engage in profitable ventures after hanging their boots.

“The problem many people have is that they refuse to diversify. For instance, I run a media outfit, I run a consultancy firm and I own other things.

“Should I wait for NFF or government to come and give me money? For me, government has been very efficient and very good to all of us. It was a privilege to serve the nation … we were not the best,” Amun affirmed.

Sports247.ng