Sports Minister Didn’t Visit Us In Atlanta – Dream Team Refute Reports
Members of the Nigeria U-23 team at the Rio Olympics have denied reports that the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung paid them a courtesy visit in their camp in the United States.
The team however stated that they have accepted the apology of the sports minister for the maltreatment they received from the Sports Ministry as regards their trip to the Olympics.
Recall that the Ministry of Sports in a statement noted that the minister was away in the United States to pay a visit to the Dream team VI in Atlanta.
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The players have now denied the report, stating that Dalung only had a chat with team captain John Mikel Obi, but never visited them.
One of the players said: “Where did he visit us? We never saw him while we were in Atlanta. I think they just issued a press release that he came to see us, we never saw.
The source however, said, “We have accepted his apology and happy that they paid us our camp allowance for 11 days. We were in camp for more than a month in Nigeria and Atlanta so they should pay us all the allowances as well as the bonus for the two matches we have played,” the source added.
Meanwhile, the sports ministry on Tuesday stated that each member of the Olympics team has been paid $1,650 being allowances for 11 days. Each player is entitled to $150 daily camp allowance.
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According to the statement the upfront payment was to ensure that the players are focused and well-motivated in their bid to win Gold in the men’s football category at the Rio Olympics.
