2023: Why footballers associate with politicians – Ex-Super Eagles striker, Aghahowa

Ex-Super Eagles striker, Julius Aghahowa has revealed why Nigerian footballers associate with politicians.

The 40-year-old former professional footballer stated this during an interview with the Channels Television on Friday.

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It will be recalled that Kanu Nwanko, J.J. Okocha, Taribo West and some ex-Super Eagles players recently participated in a novelty match to mark the 70th birthday of a national leader of the All Progressives Congress and presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The players also showed tacit support for Tinubu’s ambition, with West praying fervently for the former Lagos State governor during a visit to Tinubu’s Bourdillon residence in Lagos.

Some of the ex-footballers, including Nnwanko and Okocha, had earlier implicitly endorsed Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who is also nursing presidential ambition.

Okocha held a jersey with the inscription PYB (President Yahaya Bello) in one of the viral pictures.

Some Nigerians have criticised the former players for romancing politicians.

Responding to a question on why his colleagues associated with politicians, Aghaowa said football competitions were dependent on the latter’s sponsorship

He said, “People are clamouring for footballers not to be associated with politicians. I don’t know where they’ll get the funds to participate in competitions or to get involved.

“If you look at all the leagues in Nigeria, they’re sponsored by the state government. So how is that going to be possible at the moment?

“Maybe in the future, maybe when companies or private individuals get involved in sports, definitely that would be the way forward. And I’m clamouring for that.

“But a lot of people are not involved, especially the private companies. They’re not involved in sports at the moment. So if they do that, then the government will hand over and then we can have a smooth run.”

Aghahowa who was active in football between 1998 to 2011 was known for his pace and his back-flips when he scored goals.

He became the first foreign national outside the former Soviet Union, who was among the best scorers in the Ukrainian Premier League 2000–01 season.

He played many matches and scored a number of goals for the Nigerian national team, including the country’s only goal at the 2002 World Cup against Sweden.

He also became Nigeria’s top goalscorer at the 2002 African Nations Cup.