For Russia prostitutes, players and officials of Super Eagles are big cash cow.
They are anxiously waiting for the three-time African Champions who are scheduled to land in the World Cup country on Monday – five days to their opening game against Croatia.
But, Russia police have been busy raiding these illegal sex workers in the city of Yessentuki where the Eagles will use as their base camp during the FIFA World Cup.
According to Vladimir Vladimirov, the Governor of the Stavropol Territory where Yessentuki is located, police have crackdown and will make it impossible for the majority of workers in the illegal trade to operate during the tournament.
He said, “Officials from Nigeria, Egypt and others will have their base in this city for the tournament and we have warned against patronage of illegal strippers and others, most brothels have also been told to simply close down.”
“However, for the 30-day tournament only those with a significant “krysha” (the Russian for “roof“), that sees them pay a percentage of their earnings to officials and police in return for protection, will be able to operate,” he added.
Russia President Vladimir Putin had described Russian prostitutes as the “best in the world” and the country was notorious for its sex industry in the 1990s.
“We’re expecting a big influx of guests — at minimum twice or three times more than usual,” Lucky Lee, the sequin-jacketed owner of the Golden Girls strip club in central Moscow has said.
Previous events such as the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics have seen the Russian police imposed harsh fines on sex workers and in some cases imprison them for the duration of the competition.
Meanwhile the Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr has said that the team is ready with passion and discipline for the Russia mundial.
He said, “The team have spent six days at the Bad Tatzmanndsdorf resort in Austria, where they we are finalising preparations for the World Cup. We are ready with passion and discipline on and off the pitch.
“We will end the pre-World Cup camp on Monday and head for Russia. I enjoin Nigerians to support the team as we try to make the nation proud.”
