7th September, 2010
Coach of Nigeria Deaf Football National team, Kamilu Banjo, says his team deserve to be honoured by the Federal Government after they won the maiden edition of West Africa Deaf Football Tournament.
Nigeria defeated Togo 8-1 to emerge the winner of the tournament which was held recently at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.
Banjo said his players are still angry with Nigeria Sport Deaf Federation for not hosting them for a job well done. He said the only way the team can be encouraged is to honour and motivate them to perform better in subsequent tourneys.
“As I speak to you now, the players are still waiting for the federation to honour them. I am not happy the way they were treated during and after the competition. This is the time the federation should take our matter to the Ministry of Youth & Sports to honour the team or possibly give them money for a job well done,†said Banjo, who is still pleading with federation to assist the team in their next programme.
The gaffer told PM Sports that the team will soon begin to prepare for the Deaf Football World Cup which will hold next year.
He said Nigeria may not qualify for the championship if the team are not well motivated to take part in the Africa’s qualifiers.
“I implore the newly elected members of Nigeria Football Federation led by Alhaji Aminu Maigari to look into the matter instead of concentrating only on Super Eagles,†he said
—Sunday Akintoye
