Nigerian soccer legend, Segun Odegbami, has solicited monetary help for ailing ex-Nigerian goalkeeper, Peter Fregene.
Fregene is a former goalkeeper of the Nigeria nationwide soccer staff, with a profession spanning over 20 years.
In an announcement on Tuesday, Odegbami disclosed that Fregene is hospitalised in Sapele, Delta state, and urgently wants medical consideration and monetary help.
The 72-year-old former striker stated his colleague is “ready for assist to be moved by ambulance” to the Ohara Educating Hospital.
He stated though “Tony Ojesina lined the ambulance prices, extra funds must be paid earlier than he might be moved” to the educating hospital.
Odegbami additionally lamented what he described as “the shortage of a useful welfare scheme for retired athletes” in Nigeria.
The assertion reads in full
I’m pissed off as a result of I’m publishing this ‘horror’ image (an image of Fregene in a hospital mattress), wishing I may do what must be finished for a colleague with out having to resort to yet one more public enchantment to the identical few Nigerians which have, by means of the years, intervened within the matter of ill-health of some retired, struggling Nigerian soccer heroes.
By now, we should have exhausted any remnant of ‘goodwill’ now we have with Femi Otedola, Mike Adenuga, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Babatunde Fashola, Benson Ejindu, Allen Onyema, and some different Nigerians who usually got here to assistance from a couple of fortunate sports activities heroes a number of occasions prior to now.
Even when they haven’t complained, we’re ashamed to return to them once more.
Why don’t now we have, or why can’t we arrange, even on our personal, a easy welfare scheme for energetic and retired athletes throughout all sports activities within the nation, to maintain our declining well being in outdated age, lengthy after our sports activities careers?
Doing so doesn’t require data of rocket science. What is required are the need, laborious work and some good and dedicated folks of integrity.
The hazard now could be that the variety of retired ageing sports activities heroes languishing in poverty, neglect and sick well being is legion already, and rising. Their tales are ugly and shameful.
The federal government has demonstrated again and again that sport is just not a precedence. 64 years after Independence they can’t and won’t see it in another way, interval.
So, Peter Fregene is a reminder to us all once more. As I take a look at him mendacity comatose on a hospital mattress in Sapele and experiencing the struggling he have to be going by means of, my frustration is mounting.
It seems doing one thing for, and past, Peter is a duty that ‘destiny and metaphysical support’ appear to have put round my neck. So, we will see, as our folks would say once they have no idea what’s coming subsequent.
So, what’s the state of affairs with ‘Apo’ now? He’s nonetheless ready for assist to come back in an effort to be moved by ambulance to the Ohara Educating Hospital, Ohara, Delta State. He has been ready since yesterday.
I hope Globacom which have been caring for his each want prior to now yr would reply as soon as once more and are available to his support.
A pal sitting subsequent to me yesterday as I mentioned Peter together with his spouse on the phone final night time, Tony Ojesina, instantly paid for the price of the ambulance that may convey him there. However he nonetheless has different payments to pay earlier than he might be moved.
Fregene was the first-choice goalkeeper for the Nigeria nationwide soccer staff from 1968 to 1971. He was then recalled for the 1982 African Cup of Nations finals. He additionally represented Nigeria on the 1968 Olympics in Mexico.