Former Super Eagles’ captain and coach, Sunday Ogorchukwu Oliseh has come out with a down-to-earth confession of reasons why it is not easy for footballers to enjoy life after retiring from the round leather game.
Sports247 reports that the former Ajax of Holland, Juventus of Italy and Borussia Dortmund of Germany midfield battler gave the verdict in reaction to questions bordering on the life of a footballer after retirement.
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Although he did not name himself among the ilk of former players who are currently struggling to make ends meet, Oliseh acknowledged that many do not have investments to carry them through the latter years of their lives.
Oliseh, who was part of Nigeria’s golden generation that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and got the first FIFA World Cup ticket in the same year, then won the Olympic Games gold in 1996, stressed that the toughest part of football comes after retirement.
The ex-player, who was fondly called ‘The Passmaster’ in his heyday, added, “The most difficult things to go through in this business are after football. People always make comments like, ‘After all, he made enough money when he was playing. So, he should live well.’ No!
“First of all, we are not entitled to pensions all around the world. So, if you stopped playing 20 years ago, that’s about 240 months. That means you need to have earned so much to be able to carry yourself month-by-month after retiring.
“To be jobless for only 20 months is even tough. Unless you are Messi or something close, you will struggle. So, you need a job. That’s why I like to see former players working and getting something every month. It’s great.”
He then reeled out statistics that show how alarming the issue of former players suffering after retirement has become, but assured that proper investment and long-term planning while playing is a sure way out of the malady.
“Statistics have shown that ex-soccer players, 40% of them, go bankrupt five years after they retire. I think the statistics is that about 73% are bankrupt after 10 years of retirement.
“Those figures are huge, but a major reason why we struggle in our job is because of the fact that, for you to really hit the top, especially from our generation, you must have started at a very young age.
“That means it’s the only job you know. But, it’s a job that, when you get to 32,33,34, you can’t do it anymore. So, you become unemployed at 34. If God blesses you and you live up to 70, that means you still have over 35 years of life.
“It would be a miracle for you to have amassed enough resources to carry yourself for 36 years. So, you need to be fortunate to have a job or create a means of livelihood.
“That would give you resources and revenue coming in; which would last you during retirement… but that is not easy,” Oliseh concluded.
He then juxtaposed the realities of playing football with pursuing academics, pointing out that his sin graduated at 27 and is ready to start his life, while a footballer of that age is close to hanging his boots
