Nigerian football: Westerhof writes President Tinubu

Nigerian football has seen better days. Unfortunately, those days – when an everyday football fan on the street could name Nigeria’s first X1 offhandedly – have become a very distant past. After the heroics of the 1980 AFCON winning era, Nigerian football blossomed again between 1990 – ‘98. That was a period Nigerians rightly call the golden era of modern Nigerian football folklore. 

The architect of that memorable spell, Clemens Westerhof is still very much attached to Nigeria, long after leaving the Super Eagles at the expiration of his contract in 1994. He was engaged in 1989 as coach of the national team. Westerhof took the Super Eagles to win silver medal in his maiden AFCON appearance in 1990. They won bronze at Senegal 1992 after defeating Cameroon 2-1 in the third-place playoff match with goals from Friday Ekpo and Rashidi Yekini. In 1994 he put the icing on the cake by winning the AFCON in Tunisia and qualified Nigeria to her first FIFA World Cup finals. At the tournament in the USA, Nigeria played so well that the Super Eagles were rated joint most entertaining side in the world with Brazil and ranked 5th best national team by FIFA, the highest by an African team.

The then military Head of State General Sani Abacha promised a house to reward each of the squad members and officials, but only a handful received theirs instantly.

Coach Clemens Westerhof eventually got his house 30 years after, during the reign of late President Mohammadu Buhari. “It’s taken a long go-slow, but I feel happy that my second country has fulfilled its promise to me,” said Westerhof after receiving keys to the house from the then Minister of Works Babatunde Raji Fashola.

“I always say Nigeria gave me everything as a man and in football. You can see that I wasn’t wrong. I thank everyone involved in making this happen,” an appreciative Westerhof reflected.

However, there is an uncomfortable twist to the story. Westerhof is not at ease with the location of the house. With the scale of insecurity in the country, the Dutchman is pleading with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider a fresh allocation of a property in a more secure environment where he and his family can sleep with both eyes closed, without fear any time he visits on holiday. 

In an open letter to the President, Westerhof pleads, “The house is located in a remote area of Gwagwalada, near Kuje, within the Federal Capital Territory. It’s in a remote part of FCT. And because of the prevailing security concerns, including the risk of kidnapping, we have been strongly advised that it is unsafe for us to live there or even visit whenever we travel to Nigeria.” The house is a four bedroom bungalow. 

On a recent visit to Nigeria, the former Super Eagles coach was promised by the then minister of housing, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa  that the reallocation would be in not more than a year. Chairman of the Sports Commission , Shehu Diko facilitated Dangiwa’s meeting with Westerhof. “For all you did for Nigeria, the reallocation you’re asking for would be done with all pleasure,” Dangiwa told Westerhof in his office. “In a few months, that will be done,” the minister assured, even asking Westerhof if he wanted another bungalow or an apartment in a better area. However, with the change of the minister  the case appears forgotten,” prompting Westerhof’s letter to President Tinubu. 

The coach is worried that his desire to visit, and perhaps spend quality time in the country with his family is being impeded by the slow response from government  thus the open appeal. 

“Nigeria has given me memories that I will cherish forever. The affection of the Nigerian people has never faded, neither has my affection for Nigeria,” he said.

The coach continued, “I remain proud to have worn the green and white with honour. I remain proud of every player, every supporter, and every Nigerian who believed in us.” 

In conclusion he wrote, “Your Excellency, I humbly ask for your kind intervention so that this matter may be resolved. It would mean more to my family than words can express, and it would reaffirm the enduring bond between Nigeria and one of its grateful former coaches.”

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