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A day after blaming its failure to offset the match bonuses of the CAF African Women’s Nations Cup-winning Super Falcons on economic recession, the Federal Government yesterday declared the funds were not available because the team was not expected to win the trophy.
The victorious women footballers expressed their disappointment in Abuja on Wednesday when they refused to vacate their hotel rooms,even as they vowed not to release the trophy to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, tendered the second of government’s explanation when confronted by State House correspondents over the embarrassing development.
Although the team won the trophy for a record eighth time, Dalung argued that if the NFF was confident of yet another victory in the tournament that held in Cameroon this time, it would have applied for and processed the funds for their bonuses early enough to avoid the ugly aftermath.
Describing the development as unfortunate, the Minister pointed out that government needed to perform a ‘surgery’ on the sports sector otherwise, similar occurrences are bound to happen again.
His words: “It is unfortunate that we are celebrating victory of the Super Falcons amidst some bitter feelings among the players because of some administrative lapses that were not managed properly.
“If the situation was explained to these girls I don’t think the situation would have gotten to this level. But we are working round to clock to ensure that what belongs to them legitimately is given to them. This has to do with government process.
“One thing I always make clear is that the process of request for funds for sporting projects must come earlier to meet the objectives. Don’t forget that nobody even knew the team would emerge victorious. If we were confident they will emerge victorious, all the Federation would have done was to have planned 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 but this will go a long way in killing this laudable achievement. It is unfortunate but we will make sure the right thing is done.”
Dalung, who noted that even the team’s coaches are owed backlog of salaries, declared that “it is a complex situation but the entire governance of football deserves an urgent surgery. If that surgery is not done, we will always live with the embarrassment. I’m talking about the governance of football administration in Nigeria.
