..... Reps order NFF to pay Eagles $10, 000
Super Eagles stand in skipper, Vincent Enyeama, was in a jolly mood as the team held its media parley with the national team yesterday morning, declaring that he was not in competition with any of the goalies for the number one shirt of the national team.
Enyeama also gave a hint that sooner than later he will quit the Super Eagles, even as Lazio of Italy midfield youngster, Ogenyi Onazi assured that the team will come out clean against Malawi on Saturday.
Enyeama, who spoke first, told the media that the three goalkeepers in the national team, himself, Austin Ejide and Chigozie Agbim are in the form of their lives and any of them will man the post well if chosen by the national team handlers. “All of us are good and I must say I am not in competition with any of them neither are they with me. Nigeria is blessed with great talents and it’s always good when you are called up to play”.
Onazi on his part said he and his teammates are fired up for Saturday’s game and assured that the team will not disappoint despite the furore that has been generated ahead of the encounter.
The team trained under rainfall yesterday at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, Nigeria’s preferred tourism destination with Sports Commissioner, Patrick Ugbe monitoring proceedings.
Keshi said during training that whether it rains or not, the team was ready for the battle against Malawi, declaring the focus is not only to win against Malwai but to get to the World Cup Championship in Brazil next year.
The heavy rains prevented some of the players from coming for the evening training.
Meanwhile the Chairman, House Committee on Sports , Godfrey Ali Gaiya has declared that the decision by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to begin the implementation of the Segun Adeniyi-led panel report to pay the Super Eagles $5, 000 bonuses is untimely and counterproductive.
In a chat with newsmen in Abuja yesterday, the lawmaker advised the NFF to jettison the idea of implementing the Segun Adeniyi committee’s report for now because it could be counterproductive.
Gaiya said that since the report has not been fully adopted by the National Sports Commission (NSC), the prerogative of the NFF to decide the bonus that would be paid to the players should not arise.
“The boys need all the concentration now. They don’t need anything that would distract them.
“The NFF should return to status quo and pay them the $10,000 for now, pending when the full report would be adopted and released by the Sports Commission” Gaiya said.
Meanwhile, NFF president, Aminu Maigari had a different opinion to the lawmaker, saying that they will only pay $5,000 as winning bonuses in the all-important World Cup qualifier.
“We cannot pay $10, 000 at this time and we have made it abundantly clear. We cannot return to any status quo as is being suggested” he said.
Maigari said that his biggest dream as the president of the NFF is to see that the country’s flag is hoisted in Brazil come 2014.
“My biggest dream is the World Cup ticket, and we are working hand in hand with the various arms of government to ensure that this becomes a reality. We have been able to get to this stage because we operate an open door policy which is the basic secret of our successes” he said.
