With N6m I could get back to the pitch again, says U-17 World Cup winner

As a footballer, what was your experience shortly after winning the when you were involved in the accident and the period you’ve been in the hospital? It’s not just easy to be down for three years. I’ve gone through hell because for good three years, I’ve been in one place without going anywhere. Even if […]

As a footballer, what was your experience shortly after winning the when you were involved in the accident and the period you’ve been in the hospital?

It’s not just easy to be down for three years. I’ve gone through hell because for good three years, I’ve been in one place without going anywhere. Even if I want to go somewhere, they will take me on a wheel chair and you know what that means. I can’t walk and I really underwent hard times because it got to a point that my family don’t even have money for my treatment.  This was bad because for someone who has played and brought glory to this country the Federal Government and Kaduna state government ought to have helped me. I don’t have a regret playing for my country anyway.

When I see my colleagues playing, it disturbed me because I wish to be playing too. In fact several doctors have looked into my issue and said that I can still go back to the pitch but that I needed N6 million for treatment in India. Right inside me I know that if the government help by sponsoring my treatment abroad, even if I did not returned as an active footballer, I can still coach.

For the past one year, I’ve been in Igboko for therapy and one of the doctors there now advice that the only thing I need to come back to my feet is for me to be taken where they have the machines for suitable therapy that will work up the tissues. As you can see my whole body is okay. We just need to be taken to where they have ego therapy and other electronic machines that will stimulate the tissues because they don’t have it in Nigeria

Mostly they are in Germany, Canada, US and China. But they have them in India. And in India, the treatment is cheaper than going to Germany and some other countries. If you spent about N10 million in Germany, you could spends about five to six million in India and achieve the same result. In fact there was a man that had a similar problem, he was taken to India for two to three months and the guy is on his feet now. That was why the doctors recommended that I should be taken to India since we don’t have money to stay in Germany for additional six months. We are appealing to the Kaduna and the Federal government because the Niger state government have done their best on me for spending so much money on me. I am from Kaduna state and I want the state government to help me to come back to my feet. I am appealing to the governor, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa to look into my case and help me. I was also given a national honour (MON) when we brought the honour of the U- 17 World Cup in 2007 and it was a joyous moment. Now am down because of an accident. The federal government should help me.

Even if I did not returned as an active footballer, at least there are talent we need to nurture. That will help me to give back to my fatherland.

Recently, your club Niger Tornados said you are an ingrate. Are you?

No, the club have misinterpreted what the reporter said even though that was not what I told him. In fact, I can’t say that the Niger state government have abandon me. We went to the German hospital for the treatment under the sponsorship of Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger state. What we are saying is that, since I had the accident, the club I was playing for have not paid me my sign on fees, allowances and salaries. When my brother called the chairman, Suleiman David he said we are ingrates. We don’t know if part of my sign on fees and salary is what the Niger state government use in sponsoring me to Germany. I don’t know if the chairman of Niger Tornadoes Suleiman David is just holding the money and don’t want to give me to treat myself.

What makes you to return to the country without you getting to your feet?

Our constrained was money. The rehabilitation centre needed more money from us. Had it been we spend additional six months in Germany, I would have come back to my feet because when we came back to Nigeria, the treatment has been manual. The doctors said I just need a little touch to come back to my feet.

How much did the Niger state government spend on your treatment?

It was gathered that they spend N16.3 million but the official of the Niger Tornados who wanted to take the glory, said that they spend N18 million. Contrary to what the Niger Tornados officials said concerning my treatment, my brother only signed for N10.3 million from the Niger state government. But we heard that some officials of the club collected so much money but never give us. What my family is saying is that, the club try to paint us black with the favour we got from the Niger state government. The management of the Niger Tornadoes is yet to pay me my N2 million sign on fees apart from salaries and other allowances. I am apologising to the Niger state government that i did not say they abandon me. Niger state governor assisted me. For the fact that they recognised me as a national hero, Niger state government have done their own, by helping for my treatment abroad, we need the Kaduna state and the federal government to help me to come back on my feet. It’s N6 million we need to travel to an Indian hospital because they have the facilities we use in Germany and the bills there are cheaper. When we brought the honour, the Kaduna state government called us to state house and dance with us. Today I am down and need their help. I am appealing to Niger Tornadoes Football Club to pay me my sign on fee, salary and other allowances. When I had the accident, what the chairman of the Niger Tornadoes promised me was that they were saving my money that once I needed it, they will give it to me. But when I called him that I needed money to add up to my treatment he has not responded. Still up to now nothing has been given to me. There was a time we called the financial secretary he told me that they don’t have money at that time that if money comes, they will pay me. Till now they have not pay me. But recently, we saw in a paper quoting the management of the team that I was an ingrate.

What is Your advice to the younger footballers?

My advice to the younger footballers is that they should be always serious. They should play with all zeal because the problem we have in the Super Eagles today, is because Nigerian players are no longer playing with zeal and commitment. Had it been they have been playing with commitment, the Eagles will have been better than what it is today.

In Nigeria, we have numerous talents even here in Kaduna, Lagos and some other states. They always push me on a wheel chair to the local fields and I am always impressed with the talent that we have which are not harnessed. So, they should be serious I believe one day, Nigeria will be much better in football.