Former Nigeria international and 1982 Africa Cup of Nations winner Segun Odegbami says John Fashanu lied when he claimed he was asked to pay money before he can play for the senior national team of Nigeria.
On Saturday in an interview with OJB sport, the one cap England international claimed then coach of the Super Eagles Otto Gloria asked him to pay around 1 million naira if he wants to play for his team in the early 80’s.
He claimed he was twice turned down by the coach who insist he must pay before he is granted the chance to play for Nigeria hence his decision to play for England.
“The late MKO Abiola invited me to come play for my country Nigeria, I was so happy to train with team.
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“And I trained for two days and the coach Otto Gloria came to me and said; Big Fash you haven’t paid your money. I said what ? He said you’ve not paid your money.
“And then I asked, pay my money for what ? He then replied asking me to pay my money in order to play for the Super Eagles, ₦1.something Naira he requested from me. As at now that’d be like ₦5M. He now sent me back home with the statement saying, if you haven’t got the money you can’t play”, he was quoted as saying.
“I came back the second time, same thing. I came back the third time he still said the same thing saying Fashanu if you’re not gonna pay the money why don’t you leave it here. You don’t speak Yoruba, Hausa nor Igbo and you don’t fit into the team. Why don’t you go back to England and play for the three Lions in the process becoming the first Nigerian to play for England and stay away from Nigeria.
”I was disappointed disappointed, I was disheartened and very upset but I did it as I became the first Nigerian to play for England.”
In a swift reaction, Odegbami who was an integral part of the team back then said there is no iota of truth in Fashanu’s claim in a statement made available to OwnGoalNigeria.com.
John Fashanu could never have said what he is quoted to have said. Some of us are still alive, and an recall every second of his invitation, his entry and exit from the national team. It was so short it almost did not happen. Justice, was the Superstar at the time, and even he could not have made the Eagles because his style was unsuitable here then. This is either a misquote or fiction, the figment of someone’s imagination.
If money was to be demanded at that time it would never have been from John. N1 MILLION naira? That was I million Pounds then. Not possible in a million years!
Go and check how much the average English player earned, not to talk of thevreal Superstars of English football. The era was completely different and Nigerians were not very impressed with players from Europe then. It was in every facet of life..only mostly those students that could not get an admission into Nigerian universities went abroad as a second choice, for example. Thats the nature of Nigeria even in 1980/1981.
Nigeria was brimming with so much local talent that diasporans were never even an option, not to talk of the first option. John could not have fitted into the Nigerian team at the time. He was too young and too raw. I was right there and discussed him with Otto Gloria because I was the Captain. When he came he did not even get a look in. He did not leave on his own.
He was good for the team he played for in English football at the time with his style of play, but would not have found room in the Green Eagles of that particular time. Otto Gloria is dead so he can’t defend himself. He was one of the most respected coaches in the world at the time, former coach of Portugal when Eusebio was a player, and President of the Brazillian Coaches Association.
This story is the unkindest cut to the contributions of a decent man who came and did his best for Nigeria, without blemish. Wrong to smear his name unnecessarily without just cause.
