The Minister of
Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung and NFF President Amaju Pinnick have
moved quickly to douse feelings of discontent in the Nigeria U23 team camp,
ahead of Saturday’s Men’s Olympic Football Tournament quarter –final clash with
Denmark.
Pinnick, said he had spoken with Head Coach Samson Siasia
and that the team would certainly be in high spirit for the clash with the
Danes at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador on Saturday evening.
“I just finished a
long telephone discussion with Siasia and I explained to him the situation the
NFF is in and why he has not received his salary. As I explained last week, we
received some money from CAF and I directed that the money be used to offset
the salaries of the U23 team coaches and also for the Super Falcons’ coaches.
“The money has come
into the NFF account but it has to first go into our TSA (Treasury Single
Account) before we can access it and then use it. The vouchers for the payment
have already been done.
“Siasia confirmed
that before I spoke to him, the NFF General Secretary had also called him to
explain the situation to him. We are not unmindful of what our coaches are
going through in this challenging period and we praise them for their
patriotism and hard work despite all these.”
Pinnick also
commended the Sports Minister for his concern for the team’s welfare. “I want
to specially appreciate the Honourable Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung, who
had already dispatched accountants to the U23 team hotel to pay the allowances
of players and officials before I called the team.
“The Honourable
Minister instructed the accountants to also pay the four alternate players, who
are not accredited for the Games. We commend him for his efforts.”
The 1996 champions,
who are also the reigning champions of Africa, were scheduled to have a feel of
the Arena Fonte Nova on Friday evening, ahead of the clash with the Danes, who
lost 0-4 to Brazil in their final group match on Wednesday.
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