Super Eagles Legend Taribo West Explains Why He Left the Millions in Football To Become a Pastor
- Super Eagles legend Taribo West retired from football in 2007 and became a full-time pastor after he said he had a divine encounter
- The former Inter and AC Milan defender recently criticised Nigerian government’s neglect of retired footballers
- Taribo played a crucial role in Nigeria’s dominance in the 1990s and featured at the 1998 and 2022 FIFA World Cup tournaments
Super Eagles legend Taribo West, known for his tough tackling and eccentric hairstyles, shocked many when he abandoned a glamorous football career for life as a pastor.
The former Inter and AC Milan defender has opened up on why he made the bold switch and how his encounter with God transformed his destiny.
Source: Getty Images
Taribo West chooses the pulpit
Taribo West was one of Nigeria’s finest defenders in the 1990s, winning Ligue 1 with Auxerre in 1996 before moving to Inter Milan.
He later joined AC Milan, becoming one of the few players to feature for both clubs, and also had a stint in the Premier League with Derby County.
Despite enjoying fame and fortune in Europe, Taribo’s career took a dramatic turn after he retired in 2007.
At 33, he retired from football and stunned fans when he decided to become a full-time pastor in Lagos.
Source: Getty Images
According to The Sun, Taribo said the turning point came after a powerful spiritual encounter as he explained that he “saw God one-on-one,” and an audible divine voice instructed him to “switch” from football to ministry.
"Why would I switch from being a footballer to becoming a pastor? I saw God one-on-one. That’s where my transition started;
"From the field to the pulpit. We were celebrating. In the middle of that, a woman stumbled into me and said: ‘Sir, please may I know your name?’ I said: ‘I am Mr No Name’. She said: ‘May I know where you live?’ I said: ‘I live nowhere.’ She left with annoyance.
"In the twinkle of an eye, I just heard an audible voice and it came like a slap. It said: ‘Switch, turn.’ I turned. It said: ‘Look at the woman. Look for her now and call that woman and apologise to her. I said that to you.’ That can only be a voice from God.
"So I switched. I start searching for the woman, and when this sister came all the way from America, she told me a lot of prophecies. And she told me in the next one or two years; I would open a church. All the prophecies she gave me came to pass."
This life-changing experience eventually led to the establishment of his church in 2014.
Taribo complains of government neglect
While Taribo had earned millions during his playing days, he recently voiced concerns about the poor treatment of retired Nigerian footballers.
His remarks came after the burial of legendary goalkeeper Peter Rufai, where he lamented how ex-internationals are left to struggle without proper recognition or support.
However, a journalist negated his points, saying that many players had failed to invest wisely during their careers and should not depend solely on government stipends after retirement.
Taribo was one of the highest-paid Nigerian players during his playing days, and fans believe ex-internationals should not be taken care of after their retirement by the government.
Taribo livid over government neglect
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Super Eagles legend Taribo West has expressed displeasure over how late Peter Rufai is treated.
Super Eagles legend Taribo West has expressed displeasure over how late Peter Rufai is treated.
Source: Legit.ng
