Human Rights Activist, Senator Shehu Sani, on Wednesday advocated payment of pensions for retired sports men and women in Nigeria.
Senator Sani made the call in Ibadan at the memorial lecture organised to mark the 10th anniversary of the demise of Nigeria’s former National Team goalkeeper Late Best Ogedegbe organized by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Oyo State chapter in collaboration with the family of the legendary goalkeeper,
He lamented that it was unfortunate that Nigeria don’t celebrate their sports heroes but that “Nigerians only care for their athletes when they are in active service. The moment they retired, we forget them.”
Commending the organisers of the memorial lecture, Senator Sani advised that the commemoration be made the annual event to immortalise late Best Ogedegbe.
Giving an emotional speech at the memorial lecture, a former mate of the late footballer who is also Chief lecturer at the event Chief Segun Odegbami (MON) also lamented that most retired footballers in Nigeria, especially those residing in Oyo state are uncelebrated.
On the good times he shared with late Best Ogedegbe as footballers, Chief Odegbami described the late goalkeeper as the best role model for Nigerian goalkeepers.
“Best Ogedegbe was a confident footballer and so good that it was difficult for any player to score against him.”
The Chairman Sports Writers of Nigeria, (SWAN) Oyo State chapter Mr Niyi Alebiosu said the memorial lecture was put together to ensure that the feats of the legendary goalkeeper who was in goal when IICC Shooting Stars football club and Nigeria’s national team won their first major trophies, was not forgotten.
