Sports
NFF to Pay Rashidi Yekini, Okwaraji Mums N30,000 Monthly
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced placing the mothers of late Super Eagles legends, Rashidi Yekini and Samuel Okwaraji, on a monthly stipends of N30,000 each.
According to a tweet from the NFF official handle, the move is in furtherance to and in appreciation of the Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr Sunday Dare’s efforts at helping the mothers of the late pair.
“In furtherance to, and in appreciation of, the recent pronouncement of the HM Sports to put the mothers of late ex-internationals Sam Okwaraji and Rashidi Yekini on a monthly stipend.
“The NFF has decided to support this noble initiative with a further monthly stipend of N30k to each of the two matriarchs,” the local football regulatory body said.
The NFF also revealed that it will review the condition of surviving mothers of former internationals that dedicated their services to the nation and decide what to give them monthly.
“In addition, the NFF will henceforth review the situation of surviving mothers of our ex-internationals that died in active service for the country and resolve what to do for them on monthly basis,” another tweet read.
Samuel Okwaraji died on August 12, 1989 while wearing the green and white of the Super Eagles. He slumped on the field of play in a match against Angola.
On his part, Rashidi Yekini, who was a prolific striker for Nigeria for many games, passed away on May 4, 2012 after a brief illness.
He helped Nigeria win the African Cup of Nations in Tunisia in 1994 and was also instrumental in qualifying the country for its first World Cup in the United States in 1994.
Late Rashidi Yekini scored Nigeria’s goal in a World Cup against Bulgaria on the night of June 21, 1994.
The lanky striker was an African Footballer of the Year winner, who is Nigeria’s all-time top scorer with 37 goals in 58 games.
