As the Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi gets set to commission the permanent Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) house in Abuja today, Thursday, July 18, 2013, former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu has asked the minister to use the platform in reflecting on the contributions of Nigeria’s football heroes’ past.
Chukwu, who also captained the Green Eagles to win the 1980 African Nations Cup held in Nigeria, said the minister should look into the promise of the federal government to give the 1994 Nations Cup winning players houses.
Three of the players, Thompson Oliha, Rashidi Yekini and Uche Okafor had died without having the house.
The government had in 1994 promised players of the Super Eagles that won the African Nations Cup in Tunisia a house each. Some got and a few others are yet to get.
Chukwu, while urging the minister to do something, described the promised and fail attitude of the government as not good, as he extolled the virtue of Oliha, including Yekini and Okafor.
Oliha, who made 31 appearances for the national team, and scored two goals for Nigeria between 1988 and 1994 died recently while still making efforts to develop Nigerian football with Kwara State Football Academy.
Chukwu posited that it would gladden the hearts of the players even in death, if these promised houses could be given to their loved ones who are still living.
“The only way we can appease the dead now is to ensure that they get what was promised them at least to show some appreciation for their hard work and selfless duty for their father land. I want to call on the present minister to please confer with the presidency so that this promise could be fulfilled’’, Chukwu said.