Godwin Izilein: Shame On NFF -By Patrick Omorodion

The Holy Bible tells us in 1Timothy 5:18 that, “The labourer is worthy of his wages.”

Again in Deuteronomy 24:15 it says that, “Each day you shall give him (labourer) his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the LORD, and it be sin to you”.

If we go by this therefore, it is right to say that officials of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF who sat on the allowances and bonuses of octogenarian, Godwin Izilein, oppressed the Edo-born coach who they hired to tinker the senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons to win the African Women’s Nations Cup in 2004 and therefore sinned against God.

The curse for denying a worker is wages shall surely come upon those who denied him his wages because for 20 years, Izilein cried and begged the NFF directly and sometimes through prominent people like Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki and the former sports minister, Solomon Dalung who took it upon himself to direct the NFF to open a new file for the coach when he was told that his payment file was missing.

Shockingly, the new file that Dalung forced them to open and which they started pursuing for Izilein’s money to be paid, got missing a second time immediately after Dalung was removed as minister.

Yours sincerely has been pursuing this matter over the years and my colleague in the Punch newspapers, Tana Aiyejina as well as Osaretin Emuze, using his social media handle, had consistently reminded the NFF and the Nigerian people that Izilein was still being owed and deserved his pay but the pleas fell on deaf ears.

Seven months ago, an aggrieved Izilein granted what has turned to be his last interview on the money to the Punch, leaving everything in God’s hands. And I believe that God who neither sleeps nor slumbers will hear his cry, especially now that he died without getting what he sweated for.

Izilein’s lamentation through Punch newspapers read thus: “Since 2004 that they have owed me, I have not heard from the NFF. It’s a pity that I may not get the money again. It’s over 19 years (20 years this year) that the NFF are yet to pay me the $12,000 and the N2m promised me by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“I have not seen anything. I made up my mind not to talk about this outstanding money again because I see it as deliberate action against me. If the girls I took to the war front and survived are paid, I, the General, ought to have been paid as well before anyone”.

In 2014 when it was 10 years when the Super Falcons won the trophy, Izilein cried to yours sincerely who wrote on this Column, calling on the leader of the NFF delegation then, Chief Ayo Omidiran who was equally the deputy chairman of the House of Representatives committee on sports but she too ignored the plea.

Izilein said then, “At least I laboured to see that the team retained their title. Even while we were in South Africa awaiting the resolution of the crisis, I ensured I monitored the players to see that they remained in camp and did not mess around. Is this what I’m getting back for working for the country? Is it a curse to serve one’s country?”

No, it is not a curse to serve one’s country, Izilein. You answered a patriotic call and you delivered on your mandate even though your employers didn’t give you all the tools needed to achieve success.

The curse is on those who sat on your reward and for 20 years refused to hearken to your cry for your money. The Bible stated so and God does not lie.

How ironic it is that after ignoring the 81 year old coach for 20 years, denying him his dues, the same NFF were the first to issue a statement to mourn Izilein when the news of his demise at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) hit town last Sunday.

The secretary general of the NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi shamelessly, on behalf of the Board, wrote a condolence message, mourning his passing. How cruel!

According to the NFF, “Coach Izilein not only represented Nigeria at the senior level; he won the Women Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Falcons in 2004 as Head Coach, among other remarkable achievements”.

So they knew this all along but yet denied the man his entitlement? It’s a big shame on the NFF and all those who have ganged up to deny the man his dues since 2004.

Another touching story he told me about the unpaid money was that he was once stopped by some people while driving a car his children bought for him in Benin City.

He said he thought they were robbers when they flagged him down and told him to get off the car.

“One of them then told me, now that the NFF has paid you, you refused to tell Nigerians that you have been paid but went to buy a car. That is how you people give the NFF a bad name.”

He said he was shocked by their action and thinking but took time to explain to them that his children bought the car for him.

To be able to convince them, he said he told them to wait while he calls his son who is a Naval officer to corroborate his story. That was when they left him and vamoosed.

The story of Izilein’s unpaid entitlements is a shame on the NFF and those involved will surely not go unpunished because they have sinned against him and God.