WHEN CHAMPIONS TURN TO BEGGARS

Hear him... "Don’t forget that nobody even knew the team would emerge victorious. If we were confident they would emerge victorious, all the federation would have done is to plan for process of participation and entitlement” that’s Solomon Dalung the Man who took Buhari 6months to appoint as a Minister of Sports speaking on the inability of the federal Government to pay the Falcons.

On the 3rd of December 2016, the Nigeria Senior female football team the Super falcons won the 10th Africa women championship cup finals in Yaoundé Cameroon defeating their opponents the lioness of Cameroon. It is worthy of mention that Nigeria have won the cup 8th times out of the 10th edition held in the games. Few days later the victorious super falcons returned to Nigeria raising the banner of victory with lots of fanfare. But something Happened, the euphoria of their victory was cut short by no one else but their country Nigeria.That action made some of them ever regretting participating in the tournament. The entitlement and Allowances due to them were not Paid, in the words of Asisat oshoala one of the Playmaker of the team she described the situation as worrisome and embarrassing as the consistent habit of the NFF and the Ministry of sports in owing them their allowance and entitlements but despite the harsh conditions which these ladies were operating they still went ahead to win the tournament.

Since their return to Nigeria the President have not met the Victorious falcons to congratulate them on their Victory a sharp contrast to what exist during the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan were they were handsomely rewarded for their hard work, what a Change!

The recent order given by the Federal Government concerning their payments have not been carried out as none of the falcons have been paid, the payment is only existing on paper, it’s so shameful that these African champions had to take to the street before their legal entitlement is given to them.Its shameful for a nation that prides itself as the giant of Africa and more shameful for those shouting Change begins with me!

The man behind the mess we've been experiencing in the ministry of Sport over the last one year is still in office despite all the signs of incompetence trailing him, his tenure have been one mishap and Policy summersault over another. when Solomon Dalung was appointed as a minister his first task was to re awaken the long buried crisis of the Last NFF election between Amaju Pinnick and Chris Giwa, it took the intervention of FIFA that save the day for Amaju Pinnick.

As if that was not enough,the Nigeria Olympic team experienced all sorts of embarrassment from delayed flight to inability to pay hotel bills and other logistics payment , one of our athlete had to open a Gofundme account to finance herself to the Olympics and represent her country not even herself, the Opening parade of the Olympics was another pointer to the incompetency of the Minister of Sports as they had to wear a tracksuit for parade as their parade dress arrived late for their usage .the minister of sport was busy deceiving Nigerians that adequate preparations have been put in place but on the long run we got to see there is nothing on ground , the Preparation was so adequate according to Solomon Dalung View that Mikel Obi had to pay the Hotel bills of their team and a Japanese doctor had to foot part of their bills and render other Financial Assistance to the Team after the Olympics, Hmmm so adequate indeed.


In sharp contrast to how the Federal Government o Nigeria have handled th Falcons, The Senior women national football team of Cameroon that came second in the tournament were hosted and honoured at the Presidential Palace of their country by President Paul Biya and the First Lady, the environment was so conducive and accommodating for the girls ,the President had to do away with Protocols as he was seeing taking selfies with the girls, and talking to each one of them same as the first lady .the Lioness of Cameroon never won the AWCON like Nigeria but they’ve been honoured by their country that’s how to treat heroes and champions, in the words of President Biya he said “ you may not have won the final but you have managed to win our hearts and encourage our administration” that’s a country whose leaders hold its People in high esteem.The lioness never had to protest to get what belongs to them they never had to lock themselves up in hotel before they were given what rightfully belongs to them unlike the way we treated our own .


Heroes and Champions have not been given their rightful place in Nigeria both sportsmen and non sportsmen. the later life of Rashidi yekini the man who scored our first world cup goal was so embarrassing that he had to begged to survive ,there was even account of insanity about him and the family had nothing to take care of him ,he died and was buried like a nobody. it took the intervention of Nigeria’s senate President Dr Bukola Saraki to renovate their house and give yekini’s mother a new lease of life, the case of Rashidi Yekini is one out of many the man that designed our national Flag Pa taiwo Akinkunmi had to come to who deserves to be a millionaire sometimes ago to raise money for his upkeep and health care when he has been abandoned by his country Thanks To MTN Nigeria for the Initiative . These two cases are one out of many of how those that have given all to Nigeria have received Nothing from Nigeria, in England we can see how David Beckham is being idolised, some Nigerians that played football the same time with David Beckham have disappeared into thin air today, there is no money and any other thing to boast of after giving their all to their country.


How do we tell upcoming generations to serve Nigeria with all their might when their heroes are not been rewarded for their good deeds? This shame has to stop, The Super Falcons are heroes, they are not beggars , they are not to be embarrassed and abused. They are to be honoured. President Buhari should meet these girls and Apologise to them for the way they were treated so as to repose confidence in them about the country called Nigeria. The Labour of Our Heroes shall never be in vain. Amen


Adesina Tosin Nathaniel is a Forward Looking Nigerian Youth, He writes from Ikorodu Lagos
For more of his writings visit www.donteewrites.
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