Izilein to NFF: Honour me while I’m alive by paying what I’m owed

Godwin Izilein, former Super Falcons coach, says he wants to be honoured while alive and not after he’s dead.

Izilein has been in a 17-year battle to get the money owed him by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after leading the Super Falcons to victory at the 2004 African Women Championship.

In an interview with NAN on Monday, Izilien pleaded with the NFF to pay him and his coaching crew their $28,750 entitlement.

“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 said.

“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 laboured for after 17 years?

“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, but he promised to do something quickly about it. However, up until now, two years after, the story is still the same.

“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 one-time Golden Eaglets coach has tutored some club sides in Nigeria, which include New Nigeria Bank, Sharks FC, and Dolphins.