The Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, on Thursday said the Federal Government did not expect the Super Falcons to win the just-concluded CAF African Women Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
He said that was why the government was currently facing difficulties in paying the players’ entitlements.
Dalung spoke with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja amidst continued protests by members of the victorious Falcons over their unpaid allowances.
The players had seized the trophy they won at the competition and said they would hold on to the trophy until the authorities concerned offset the N238.05m accumulated bonuses which they are being owed.
They had threatened that if President Muhammadu Buhari refused to address their grievances at the Federal Executive Council’s meeting on Wednesday, they would embark on protest on the streets of Abuja.
But the minister said the situation could have been avoided if the Nigerian Football Federation had envisaged that the team would win and put in place the process of paying their entitlements.
He said, “Don’t forget that nobody even knew the team will emerge victorious.
“If we were confident they will emerge victorious, all the federation would have done is to plan for process of participation and entitlement.
“It is already established in sports tradition, when you win this is what you are entitled to.
“The situation is highly unfortunate and I don’t like it. These girls have given confidence to women who want to embrace sports, so this will go a long way in killing this laudable achievement. It is unfortunate but we will make sure the right thing is done.”
The minister said his position had always remained that the process of request for funds for sporting projects must come earlier to meet the objectives.
He said if the federation had requested for funds on time, the process of settling the players would have been easier.
The minister admitted that the matter was not handled properly, regretting that there are also issues of outstanding payment of coaches.
Such a shame! The same defeatist attitude and cynicism that have kept Nigeria down in all spheres of development. We never expect to do well!! So it becomes our reality, our self-fulfilling prophesy. And this kind of statement from a Minister who in the first place is supposed to push and encourage our sportsmen and women, indeed every young Nigeria, to achieve the seeming impossible is to say the least very telling of the state of mind of Nigeria’s leaders and men of power. So very sad. So very unbecoming.
Why does Nigerian Government keep embarrassing Nigerians around the world?
Does Nigeria have a well structured system of administration in all its government departments? One that is responsive to unexpected events. I thought, if a proper, well functioning and working structure is in place in every Nigerian government department, including the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports in this case, the embarrassing scenario playing out concerning the Super Falcons payments wouldn’t have arisen in the first place. These girls brought honour to their country but their government brought public shame to them by not paying them their entitlements pronto and for allowing it to become a shameful public issue.
Shame on you Minister of sports, shame on you Buhari government.