The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says it has refrained from responding to the cacophony of falsehood and misrepresentation over its absence or otherwise from the final funeral rites of former Nigerian international, Isaac Promise, because it was most concerned with the safety and wellbeing of his immediate family.
NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, reiterated on Friday that the Federation had always, was presently and would always show concern on issues that affect Nigerian players (active, retired or departed), and had without recourse to noise and grandstanding, done its part for the immediate family of the late Isaac Promise.
He said, “The NFF has been in regular contact with, and has offered support to the late Isaac Promise’s wife and children. When the player died in the United States of America, the NFF immediately contacted the club and we were assured of the responsibilities of the club, which included flying his remains to Nigeria.
“However, some of his siblings expected the NFF to foot the entire bill of his burial outright, which we told them was not possible. The NFF offered to foot part of the bill for the burial but from that moment, they were not happy with the Federation.”
Olajire disclosed that the NFF President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, was also in contact with the Executive Chairman of the Imo State Sports Commission, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, and the Chairman of the Imo State Football Association, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, to help make peace in the late player’s family as the siblings were at daggers drawn with his wife and children.
“We know what we have done and are still ready to do for the immediate family without joining in the debate going on in sections of the media.
“The NFF President has approved a sum of money to be paid to the immediate family and that money will be sent to his wife in the next few days.”
On her part, the wife of the late Isaac Promise has commended the Nigeria Football Federation for its efforts since the passing on of her husband, who captained the Nigeria U20 team to runner-up position at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in The Netherlands in 2005, and was also a key member of the U23 team that won silver medal in the Men’s Football Tournament of the 2008 Olympics in China.
Mrs Kate Promise expressed surprise at the negative stories in sections of the media, while confirming that the NFF President indeed mandated Peace Ndubuoke and Uchegbulam to broker between her in-laws and her.
