April 30, (THEWILL) – The current state of health of ex-Nigerian international and Atlanta 1996 Olympic Gold medalist, Wilson Oruma, has sparked concerns among Nigerians after a video of him in a helpless state emerged online.
In the video, Oruma was seen lying on his sick bed with a drip on his arm, appearing to be asleep while receiving treatment. Now 46, Oruma played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s historic win at the 1996 Olympic Games, where the Super Eagles defeated Brazil and Argentina to claim the gold medal.
Oruma’s ex-teammate, Joseph Dosu, expressed his worries over the state of the former midfielder, saying: “I saw the video as well, and I have been trying to find out what really happened to Wilson.” Meanwhile, former Nigerian captain, Sunday Oliseh, also sympathised with his ex-teammate, saying: “Wilson Oruma? Not again. It’s unfortunate. I feel for him, and I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Oruma retired from professional football in 2006 and was reportedly defrauded of about N2 billion while trying to invest in the oil and gas sector, leading to emotional trauma. The former President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, previously made efforts to assist Oruma, paying his outstanding hospital bills and relocating him to a better-equipped hospital.
While Nigerians are hoping for Oruma’s speedy recovery and rehabilitation, his condition, once again, brings the debate of care and well-being of the country’s sports ambassadors to the front burner. Former Nigerian football players mostly bear the brunt of these ailments alone due to a lack of support from the Nigerian football structure.
For the most part, ex-national team players are left without a pension and health insurance, which has led to many becoming poverty-stricken, depressed, sick, and even resorting to drugs to cope. The idea of a welfare scheme to take care of retired footballers has been discussed over time but with little to nothing in terms of action.
Oruma’s case is another evidence that the country is beyond the point where bodies like the Nigerian Olympians Association, the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria, and other such organisations take responsibility to make supporting retired athletes a policy issue and work towards a proper support structure for those who require it.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
