Former Super Eagles player Brown Ideye has urged footballers to take financial planning seriously, insisting those who end up broke after retirement deserve no pit.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner, who recently announced his retirement from international football, on his official X account advised active players to treat their wages as a lifetime’s salary earned in just a few years.
“Footballers, start saving for your future from day one. No matter how small your salary is, put something aside for your retirement,” Ideye wrote.
He added that players should also pray for the right support system, stressing the importance of good people and a reliable partner after their careers end.
The 35-year-old was responding to an online debate about players who fail to invest wisely. A follower had argued that professionals, particularly those who played in Europe, have little excuse not to build solid financial security.
“They should be jailed for life if, after they retired from playing, they can’t feed themselves,” Ideye replied to the follower.
The debate started after ex-defender Taribo West’s emotional outburst at the burial of late goalkeeper Peter Rufai on Friday, when the former Inter Milan star condemned the alleged neglect of Nigerian football heroes by both the Nigeria Football Federation and the Lagos State Government.
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West lamented that Rufai’s family had been left without financial support, recalling similar struggles endured by the families of late icons Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, and Thompson Oliha.
“Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit within our groups to ask for money? That is madness,” West said in a video posted by News Central.
The passionate remarks sparked heated debate on social media about the financial woes of ex-internationals, with many questioning why some players, particularly those who had long stints in Europe, fail to secure themselves after football.
Ideye made his Super Eagles debut in 2010 in a 2-1 international friendly defeat to South Korea. He would go on to play an important role in Nigeria’s run to the AFCON triumph in 2013 under the late Stephen Keshi.
He also featured for Nigeria at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil. But last played for the Super Eagles in 2016.
He also played in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Premier League, and CAF Confederation during his nearly two-decade career that saw him win league titles in Greece and a cup title in Ukraine.
His club experience includes stints at China’s Tianjin Teda before a loan spell at Malaga. He has also played for Aris in Greece and Goztepe in Turkey, Al-Yarmouk in Kuwait before returning to the Nigeria premier football league with Enyimba.
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