Godwin Izilein led the Super Falcons to a fourth African title in 2004 but has not been paid his allowances 13 years after.
The ex-Golden Eaglets coach couldn’t hold back the tears as he pleaded with officials to pay him his money in this interview with our reporter.
How do you feel when majority of our sports heroes are poorly treated by the authorities?
I think that is due to the poor administrative set-up in the country. We’ve been crying about that. Administratively, there should be an improvement; we should have records like it’s done in Europe. Those who performed 50 years ago are well known and still recognised in Europe because their records are in the archives. But we don’t have that here and we easily forget. It’s a statement of fact that most of the retired players and coaches are living in penury. Why are we neglected? Our job is not pensionable in most cases and at the end you may even be discarded by your family. Sometimes it could be your wife that would discard you because things aren’t okay as they should be. Nowadays, if you don’t have money, you are nobody. So, it’s my appeal to the entire country to ensure that sportsmen should not be left to rot away in penury.
Twelve years after you coached the Falcons to win the African Women Cup of Nations, beating Cameroon in the final, the team did same with a win over their bitter rivals in their home. But both squads’ victories were marred by players’ protests over the non-payment of their bonuses…
(Cuts in) I feel highly vindicated because a lot of people said I instigated the girls to do what they did in South Africa in 2004. I never did. As a professional, I have my license to protect. Those who follow the history of the team religiously will now know that Godwin Izilein was a victim of circumstance. My money and that of my two assistants is yet to be paid since 2004 despite winning the AWCON. Is that not bad? And the same thing happened to these girls before the Presidency intervened. I’m appealing to every one of you to join me and help me so that they can pay me my money. I want to enjoy my money before I go (die). I need to enjoy my money because I suffered for this country. I’m appealing to the minister and his aides that something concrete should be done before, during and after competitions. What I mean by that is that the financial aspect should be fully documented and agreed on. That’s why an estimated amount must be established and approved. If you don’t use the estimate, you return the money back to where it belongs. If you win all the matches, you get all your money and whatever balance is left should be sent to the coffers of government. Otherwise, nothing will happen. I was taken aback and sad when they said the (sports) minister made a statement that they didn’t budget money because they didn’t expect Falcons to win the 2016 AWCON. It’s absolutely disgusting, painful and a disastrous statement. Why will a minister say such a thing? I still don’t want to believe it. This is a nation that is recognised globally through sports and those at the helm of affairs are making such statements? We need to check ourselves.
How much are you owed precisely?
In Johannesburg we won four of our matches, drew one, and my players were paid $6,000 each. By virtue of the letter given to me, I was to earn $12, 000 because it stated that I would collect double what the players received. But I had two assistants with me; one was to receive over $9,000 while the other, Anne Chiejine, was entitled to over $7,000, totaling $28,750. That is what they owe us. It’s not too much but we need it. Charles Dickens said, ‘Vengenace and retribution require a long time.’ If we cannot fight the government, we will pray to my God for vengeance.
Have you appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to equally help you and your assistants just like he did to the Falcons last December?
If the President can fulfill a promise he made over 30 years ago to the U-17 national team, ours is just 12 years ago and I see no reason why it should not be inclusive. My appeal to the President is that our money should be paid just like he did to the current Falcons. It’s the same thing we did. If it were in a court of law, I would be discharged and acquitted for innocence. The only way I can get my mind fully rested is when the money is paid to me. If they fail to pay me the money, I will continue to cry to my God.
You talked about being vindicated after the victory in South Africa. What actually happened that led to the players refusing to return home unless they got their allowances?
(Ibrahim) Galadima (then NFF boss) and Ayo Omidiran, a member of the House of Representatives, appealed to me that I should tell the girls not to ask for their money to avoid distractions, which I did. I went to them, talked to them and they obeyed me as their coach. I told them, ‘at the end of it, you all will get your money.’ But when we won the gold and I was going for the press conference the next morning after the victory, I went to the (NFF) secretary and I told him, ‘Can I have some money so that I can buy one or two things on the way?’
He said, ‘No.’ He said a decision was taken the previous night that they would pay us our money in Nigeria. I told him I could not deliver such a message (to the players). It will lower my prestige as a coach. I had given them my word and I would stand by it. I told him that they should deliver the message to the girls themselves.
That was the beginning of the problem. And in fairness to the girls, they never rioted nor carried flags. They only did what the present players did in December. But I was shocked when they alleged that in my presence the girls carried Biafran flags. There was nothing like that. Some journalists just took what they were told and supported them without doing their investigations. The girls only said they won’t return to Nigeria.
Even Galadima gave me my ticket and I told him, ‘No, I won’t go.’ What will I tell Nigerians when I get to the airport? I can’t do that, I was like a general, I wouldn’t have left my soldiers in the warfront.
If that is what I’m being punished for, I’m praying that God will see me through. I’m only living by the grace of God and my children. My kids have been very wonderful, even the car I’m driving, they bought it for me.
That’s why people believe that I’m living well but I’m bleeding, I’m in pains. I need to support my kids too; otherwise the bridge can collapse any moment. I pray it doesn’t. We have no respect for people who have done well for this country. I took over the U-17 national team, I worked with Kashimawo Laloko in the U-20 team before we handed over to Samson Siasia. When I got to the Falcons, I was told to handle the three national teams when their coaches had problems with the authorities. I did it but is this the way I should be paid back?
My kids tell me, ‘Dad, remain focused, don’t be bitter and God will see you through.’ That is why I’m optimistic the money will be paid. I don’t have money to save, but since they’ve helped me to save the money for over 12 years, they should return it back to me so I can invest it. Right now, I’m not happy (bursts out in tears).
credit: punchng