We all helped in 'killing' Rashidi Yekini -Lawal

FORMER Super Eagles winger Dimeji Lawal is afraid Nigeria's football will continue to nosedive except heroes of the game are given the deserved recognition and treatment.Speaking at the Oyo State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) organised day of tribute for late Nigerian goalking, Rashidi Yekini held at the Media Centre of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Kabongo as he is fondly called also blamed both the administrators of the game and ex internationals over the problems some players are encountering.Lawal who described the late Yekini as the greatest 'comedian' he has ever met contrary to insinuations that he was unapproachable, argued that had the administrators and the so called ex internationals lived up to their responsibilities, great players like Yekini would have been treated as first class citizens of the country.''I will say here that we all helped in killing Yekini. Everyone of us contributed to the problem that eventually led to his demise.,'' said the former defunct Femo Scorpion of Eruwa who went ahead to lambast the so-called ex- footballers for not deeming it fit to organise a programme in honour of the late Victorial Setubal striker."We are saying Nigerian football is dying, it will continue this way except we the ex internationals and the football administrators rise up to our responsibilities," he added.In Nigeria, there is no hero, once you quit the stage, that is the end. That is why I will rather want my child to take to other sports but not football.''Imagine, Portugal stood still for Yekini when they heard of his death, Here, how many footballers were at Ira for his burial and this is a praogramme organsied for him in Ibadan here, how many Nigerian footballers or soccer administrators are here. ''That is why I will say that we ex footballers, footballers Union or whatever that we should be ashaned of ourselves. If SWAN can think of doing this and none of us ever thought of it. It is a shame."This is Yekini we are talking about, somebody whose death attracted the reaction of FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who sent a letter of condolence all the way from Switzerland.
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