Former Super Falcons player, James Johnson, formerly Iyabo Abade, seeks N69.7 million from the Nigeria Football Federation for final sex-change surgeries. Johnson aims to fully transition and father children.
James Johnson, formerly known as Iyabo Abade, a former Super Falcons player, has appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for N69.7 million to undergo corrective surgery.
Johnson, who successfully had a sex change operation in the US in 2004, needs the funds to complete the final stages of his transformation and fulfill his dream of fathering children.
Johnson, who played for the Super Falcons from 1997 to 2000, wrote to the NFF in 2023 for financial assistance but has yet to receive a response.
The letter, addressed to NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, detailed Johnson’s journey from being a hermaphrodite to undergoing sex change surgeries, funded initially by Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the then Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
In his appeal, Johnson expressed the emotional toll of not being able to father a child and urged the NFF to support him in completing the remaining two phases of his surgery in the United States. He hopes that with the assistance of the NFF, his dream can be realized.
Reactions from Nigerians have been mixed. Some expressed sympathy and support for Johnson’s plight, recognizing the emotional and physical challenges he faces. "Oh dear. What an experience! From Super Falcons to Ogbomoso FC. So sorry about your situation. I hope and pray that you get the assistance you need," said one respondent.
Others, however, were less supportive, criticizing Johnson for seeking funds from the NFF. "Imagine such entitled mentality! You want NFF that doesn't even have money to pay match bonuses to finance your surgery," commented another.
Despite the varied reactions, Johnson remains hopeful that the NFF will provide the necessary support for his surgery and enable him to lead a fulfilled life.
Source: Punch
