Ex-Eagles’ goalkeeper advocates improved living standard for ex-int’ls

Etta Egbe, a former national goalkeeper, on Thursday said Monday’s demise of former Super Eagles defender Yisa Sofoluwe has exposed the precarious condition in which former internationals live.

Egbe, who is the Technical Director of Rovers Football Club of Calabar, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar that the situation was rather very unfortunate.

“To me, as a person, the news of Sofoluwe’s death was very shocking. It was a sad loss to his immediate family and ex-Nigerian internationals.

“He was a complete gentleman and took good care of himself.

“However, his death has exposed the precarious condition in which former internationals live and it is very unfortunate,” he said.

Egbe who played alongside Sofoluwe in the Super Eagles said his death and that of others before him, including Joe Erico, have thrown a challenge to the authorities to do something now.

He said this would help to avoid further deaths.

“Government needs to put in place a welfare scheme for ex-internationals. This has become necessary, in order to avoid further demise of those who served the country meritoriously.

“We served the country with patriotism and with such a scheme every player of Nigerian descent will want to come and play for Nigeria.

“The living condition of most of us (ex-internationals) is so bad that it cannot encourage young footballers to aspire to play for the country,” Egbe who played for several club sides in the 1980s and early 1990s said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sofoluwe, who was nicknamed “Dean of Defence” by an ace football commentator, the late Ernest Okonkwo, died on Monday after a brief illness.

By Benson Ezugwu [NAN]

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