…Insists Sports Minister not facing hotel eviction
Romanus Ugwu, St Petersburg
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed insinuation that the internal wrangling is tearing apart members of the board in Russia.
The federation equally denied the speculations that the authority of the hotel where the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Barr. Solomon Dalung is threatening to throw him out over non-payment of bill.
Federation’s first Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi, told sports writers in St Petersburg that the rumoured division and internal fighting among the board members was a figment of somebody’s imagination.
“I can tell you that all the board members are kept in the same hotel, we eat together threw banters at each other, we all came in from Kalinigrad together, we watch the matches together and I can tell you that there is no iota of disaffection among us.
“I do not think there is any disaffection among the NFF board members. We have heard several rumours from the media. But that is normal, especially now that we are into the World Cup.
“There may be point of disagreement on issues but that is normal. I want to think that people are used to such stories and can easily brush and use them.
“Let me also say that there is no iota of disagreement let alone disaffection in the Super Eagles camp. Every player respects the coach. I have been around our Green Eagles and Super Eagles in the past; I have never seen this kind unity with the team and board of the NFF.
“We are very happy with the way everything is going. Whoever says that there is crisis in Eagles camp is not telling the truth. We are looking forward to Friday with hope and thrust that we are going to win,” he said.
On the speculations about the Minister, he said: “That is almost laughable, it is not true, there is no way the Honourable Minister can be ejected from his hotel and we will sit down here. The fact that we are here can prove to you that such report is not true. No board member can be ejected from his hotel, let alone the Minister.”