Tunisia 1994 Eagles Appeal to Sports Minister Over FG Promised Houses
Some members of the victorious Super Eagles to the Africa Nations Cup Finals in Tunisia 1994 have appealed to the sports minister, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, to help in securing the release of the houses promised to the team by the then head of state, late Gen.Sani Abacha.
Members of the team, which include Victor Ikpeba, Mutiu Adepoju, Ben Iroha, Samson Siasia and leader of the delegation former Super Eagles assistant coach, Austin Eguavoen, stormed the National Stadium, Abuja, yesterday to press home their demand for the umpteenth time.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Eguavoen lamented that 20 years after winning the Nations Cup in Tunisia with the government pledging to give each players houses, those promises have not been fulfilled and with the likes Rashidi Yekini, Uche Okafor and recently Thompson Oliha, passing on without benefitting from the government largesse which their families are supposed to be enjoying now ‘’
“The 1994 squad is the team that changed the face of Nigerian football though the 1980’s squad led by Christian Chukwu won the Nations Cup on home soil earlier .It was on the basis of that the country qualified for the first World Cup in the United States of America. Records don’t lie. Whenever any athletes won something the country always reciprocated but our own case has been dragging on for too long .Though few members of the team that actually chose Abuja got theirs, while those who opted for Lagos have not been able to access their own house since then, “he lamented.
Responding, sports minister, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan since his assumption of office has rewarded every athlete that won any medals for the country.
“I must commend your sense of nationalism which is currently lacking in our national team these days. Government is continuous. President Jonathan mentioned Oliha’s death in one of our Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings, and said that he heard on radio that the government has not fulfilled the house it promised the player 20 years ago,” he said.
Former Super Eagles handler, Samson Siasia told our correspondent: “It will be a good idea if President Jonathan can be magnanimous in giving them the houses in Abuja.’’
The Niger Times can reveal that Finidi George who chose Port Harcourt and 12 others who preferred Lagos actually got their own houses.
It is only seven of them including Stephen Keshi, who was conspicuously absent, that have not got theirs.
Members of the team, which include Victor Ikpeba, Mutiu Adepoju, Ben Iroha, Samson Siasia and leader of the delegation former Super Eagles assistant coach, Austin Eguavoen, stormed the National Stadium, Abuja, yesterday to press home their demand for the umpteenth time.
Speaking on behalf of the team, Eguavoen lamented that 20 years after winning the Nations Cup in Tunisia with the government pledging to give each players houses, those promises have not been fulfilled and with the likes Rashidi Yekini, Uche Okafor and recently Thompson Oliha, passing on without benefitting from the government largesse which their families are supposed to be enjoying now ‘’
“The 1994 squad is the team that changed the face of Nigerian football though the 1980’s squad led by Christian Chukwu won the Nations Cup on home soil earlier .It was on the basis of that the country qualified for the first World Cup in the United States of America. Records don’t lie. Whenever any athletes won something the country always reciprocated but our own case has been dragging on for too long .Though few members of the team that actually chose Abuja got theirs, while those who opted for Lagos have not been able to access their own house since then, “he lamented.
Responding, sports minister, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan since his assumption of office has rewarded every athlete that won any medals for the country.
“I must commend your sense of nationalism which is currently lacking in our national team these days. Government is continuous. President Jonathan mentioned Oliha’s death in one of our Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings, and said that he heard on radio that the government has not fulfilled the house it promised the player 20 years ago,” he said.
Former Super Eagles handler, Samson Siasia told our correspondent: “It will be a good idea if President Jonathan can be magnanimous in giving them the houses in Abuja.’’
The Niger Times can reveal that Finidi George who chose Port Harcourt and 12 others who preferred Lagos actually got their own houses.
It is only seven of them including Stephen Keshi, who was conspicuously absent, that have not got theirs.
Tunisia 1994 Eagles Appeal to Sports Minister Over FG Promised Houses
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Reviewed by Msl
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