- Team back in training for Denmark
- NFF explains delay in salary payment
- Mikel paid no bills says Dalung
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 today’s Men’s Olympic Football Tournament quarter –final clash with Denmark.
Pinnick told thenff.com on Friday afternoon that 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.
Meanwhile, Dalung has dismissed reports that captain of Dream Team Mikel picked up the hotel bills of the team in Sao Paolo.
In the minister’s words:”The attention of the Ministry of Youth and Sports has again been drawn to the news that Team Nigeria’s Captain John Mikel Obi paid hotel bills accruing from the 8 unaccredited players and officials in Rio with the National U-23 team….Siasia was in my room early this morning and said the hotel security had refused to allow the team leave the hotel due to unpaid hotel bills. I also lodged in the same hotel with the Permanent Secretary and other members of the National Assembly who came to watch the match against Columbia.
I told him to add the bill to the permanent Secretary’s bill so that he can clear it alongside other bills. The amount incurred by the excess officials and players is $4,600. When we checked out of the hotel, the money was added and the Permanent Secretary paid all outstanding bills. I am surprised to hear and read that Mikel Obi saved an embarrassing situation by paying the bills.”