I’ll Forever Be Grateful To Ahmed Musa For Giving Me N2m – Obiekwu

Former Nigerian International, Kingsley Obiekwu has appreciated Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, for giving him N2 million as a gift.

Naija News had reported that financial struggles forced the Olympics player to become a commercial transporter plying between Enugu and Awka.

Obiekwu in an earlier interview said he went into the commercial transport business to complement his earnings from his coaching job and to sustain his family.

The former defender attributed his difficulties to debts owed him by several clubs, including Senator Ifeanyi Uba, owner of FC Ifeanyi Uba, which runs into N6 million cumulatively.

The dwindling fortunes of the former player elicited reactions from Nigerians including Musa who made a cash donation of N2 million to the Delta-born defender.

In an interview with reporters on Thursday, Obiekwu said though the story came as an embarrassment to members of his family, there was nothing to regret telling the world what he was passing through.

He said that when he wanted to go into the transport business years ago, his wife discouraged him on the grounds that it would be debasing for a man of his class in fame and fortune.

He said: “I want to thank God for everything. Some members of my family have been calling me to express embarrassment over the story but I told them not to worry because I played the game and I know what I feel.

“The story is making an impact with a lot of reactions, being a popular person, I cannot hide; Nigerians will be interested to know how their ex heroes are fairing, but I have told my family not to worry, that I will handle it.

“So yesterday, the Media Officer of the Super Eagles who works in a radio station called me to inform me that somebody wanted to speak with me and I said he should give him my number.

“Musa called me and said he had heard my story and that he and his teammates will do something but meanwhile, I should give him my account number and in about an hour’s time, I got an alert of N2 million, I appreciate that a lot.”

Obiekwu said he was forced to retire at 30 in 2004 due to health reasons, adding that a number of ex-internationals were passing through hard times.

He advised former players not to be ashamed to speak out instead of dying in silence and appealed to active sportsmen and women to save and invest their earnings to avoid running into hitches when they are retired.

He added: “If you don’t come out to tell Nigerians your story, they won’t know how to help you, So I encourage my colleagues to do what they can to keep body and soul together. there is nothing to be shameful for.

“As an ex-player, I want to advise the younger ones to save and invest because football and sports are something that you do within a period in life. If you retire, you begin to struggle if you don’t save enough.”

“In my case, I did not waste my money, at least I have a house. Imagine the landlord throwing your property out because you can’t pay rent, it would have been worse.

“Our club managers and administrators should also complement the effort of state governments by making sure they pay players and coaches.

“I have players in my former clubs whose marriages have crashed because they can’t provide for their families, you can’t develop football without developing those making it happen,” he said.