Duro Ikhazuagbe

Lagos Legends Club (LLC), an association of over 3,000 retired sports professionals, has called  for urgent reforms in the welfare and care of Nigeria’s retired sports heroes.

Members of the LLC made this clarion call when they paid a courtesy on the family of late former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos at the weekend.

Convener of the LLC, Engr Waidi Akanni, “many of our heroes are dying, slowly 

 alive. They gave their best years to the nation, yet they now live in helplessness. We cannot afford to look away any longer. We must look at how we cater for the welfare of these heroes,” observed Akanni, a former Super Eagles player.

While offering their support to the family, the LLC stressed that with proper welfare in place for past heroes like Rufai, “he probably will still be alive today.”

“Rufai, who once stood tall as a guardian of the Nigerian goalpost, was seen in frail health during what may have been his final public appearance at a school sporting event. 

“His death underscores a growing crisis — many of Nigeria’s past sporting legends are living in neglect, battling ill-health, poverty, and emotional distress with little or no institutional support. We just cannot continue like this as a nation. We need to institute welfare packages to take care of them,” observed the LLC Chairman.

He emphasized that many retired athletes are eager and ready to contribute meaningfully to the growth of sports and youth development in the country by serving as mentors in school sports programmes.

“These legends still have so much to offer,” Akanni added. “They are not just retirees seeking support — they are mentors, coaches, and role models who can help shape the next generation of champions if given the opportunity.”

Lagos Legends Club Spokesman, Monday Kanu, therefore called on Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, known for his passion for sports and progressive governance, to lead the charge and “bell the cat” by instituting a model programme for athlete welfare that other states can emulate.

“Lagos has always been a pace-setter, a state that brings to bear what is seldom conceived. We believe that under Governor Sanwo-Olu’s leadership, Lagos can become the first state in Nigeria to formally recognize and provide for its retired sports icons — while also tapping into their wealth of experience to mentor young talents across schools in the state,” he concluded.

Among the notable members of the Lagos Legends Club are football icons such as Henry Nwosu (MON), Godwin Okpara, Friday Elaho, Friday Ekpo, and Wasiu Ipaye, Nduka Ugbade, Godwin Obinyan, Taiwo Oloyede, Benson Edema, Ladi Babalola, etc,— all celebrated names who once brought pride to Nigeria on both continental and global stages. “Today, these veterans remain active in championing better post-career opportunities for retired athletes and mentoring young talents across the country.”