10th November, 2013
Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday announced different cash gifts for players, coaches and other support staff of the victorious Nigeria team at the Under 17 world cup concluded last Friday in United Arab Emirate.
At a reception held for the victorious team at the banquet hall in Abuja attended by Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senator David Mark, the President of the Senate and Aminu Tambuwal, the Speaker of House of Representatives, governors, members of Federal Executive Council, members of National Assembly members of the National Working Committee of PDP and the Ambassador of Mexico to Nigeria, among others, the President also said the players, the coaches as well as some members of the Nigeria Football Supporters’ Club will also be conferred with national honours at a later date.
President Jonathan who noted that the team has transformed from being the second best in Africa seven months ago to number one in the world, announced a cash prize of N2 million each to the players and N3 million for Chief Coach Manu Garba.
He however expressed hope that state governors and operators in the private sector will chip in more cash gifts when they host the team.
The President also announced cash gift of N2.5 million each for the Assistant coaches while the team doctor, secretary and physiotherapist will get N1.5 million each.
Other support staff of the team were rewarded with N300, 000.00 each. The President had earlier noted that the team’s dedication, showmanship, discipline and great showmanship on the field of play and eventual victory at the championship was a thing of pride not only to Nigeria, but to the entire African continent.
He also noted that with last Friday’s victory, the Golden Eaglets have set the record of being the only team that has won the championship four times with goal record of 26 goals.
The President said the team victory is also evident of the fact that Nigeria has the capacity to lead the world in any field of human endeavour once we “organized ourselves and are disciplined.”
“For the coaches, the enduring test will be the progress of these boys. If we can conquer the world at Under 17 level, there is no reason we cannot win at the senior level, the boys must remain world champion,” President Jonathan charges the coaches of the Under 17 team.
Golden Era of Nigeria Sports
While reflecting on the victories that have been recorded by Nigeria, especially in football and athletics in recent times, President Jonathan also declared the past two years of his administration as “golden era of Nigeria sports.”
The President who listed the victories to include the African Nations’ Cup won by Nigeria earlier in the year after 19 years, the First edition of Mandela Gold Cup, and the nation’s victories at African Athletics and junior Athletics Championship among others attributed the feat to the implementation of the roadmap drawn up at a Sports retreat organized by his administration after Nigeria’s performance at the last Olympic Games.
Speaking before presenting the trophy won by the Under 17 to the President, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the Minister of Sports noted that Nigeria started year 2013 Super Eagles, the senior team as African Champion and is ending the year as a world champion.
“Your Excellency, your place is already secured as the most successful President in African sports history, ” said Abdullahi who however noted that the victory of the Golden Eaglets at the world championship was the culmination of a two year project to build a world class team. He acknowledged the support of the President to the team.
Abdullahi noted that 19 members of the victorious junior football team were selected through a very competitive process and the result was the breathtaking football put on display by the team. The Sports Minister promised to sustain the team for greater endeavours in the field of football.
The Ambassador of Mexico to Nigeria had earlier presented the Nigerian and Mexican jerseys to President Jonathan. Also present at the ceremony were officials of Nigeria Football Federation.
The victorious team had earlier gone round Abuja in a motorcade on Sunday before the reception at the presidential villa.