NFF yet to pay money owed me 17 years after, ex-super falcon coach laments

A former coach of the Super Falcons, Godwin Izilein has revealed that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is yet to pay his outstanding match bonuses of 28,750 dollars (about N12 million) 17 years after he was promised.

The coach, who once handled the Golden Eaglets, said the NFF should not wait until after his death to mourn him, but should rather pay him his outstanding debt for him to take care of his health.

“The unpaid allowances are my reward for taking the female national team to Johannesburg in South Africa in 2004 where Nigeria won the African Women Championship (AWC).

“I don’t know what my offence is that they have refused to pay me this money. I have written and personally met with heads of NFF at different times. Yet, the story remains the same.

“The last time was when I met the present NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, in the presence of Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo, where I again tabled the matter.

“Though he (Pinnick) expressed shock that I was yet to be paid, he promised to do something quickly about it. However, up until now, two years after, the story is still the same.

“But I am only interested in my money, not an addition. I don’t know if it has now become a crime to serve one’s fatherland. Or, why will I be pursuing what I labored for after 17 years?

“I should be honoured while I am still alive and not when I am gone. NFF should honour me now by paying me the money and not cry and write glowing tributes when I am dead,” Izilein declared.”