Samson Siasia
Speaking exclusively with popular sports radio, Brilla FM on
Friday, the coach of Nigeria’s Olympic football squad, Samson Siasia,
disclosed that he will support players boycotting Saturday’s football
quarter-final against Denmark over unpaid allowances.
While making startling revelations, the Bayelsa-born coach, said
he's been owed salary for five months and that he and his players have
been disrespected by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Sports
Ministry all through out their Olympic journey.
According to Siasia, he has begged his players to carry on playing
for the country up till this point but he is tired and that if the
players decide to boycott the quarter final match against Denmark at Rio
2016, he'll support them.
“We have been disrespected from all angles – the sports
ministry, the Nigeria Football Federation. Is that how you will treat
your own children? We are not street kids.
“We have only been paid allowances for 11 days. There is no
match bonus. What of all the months we have been training in Nigeria and
Atlanta? That’s not fair. I have not received my salary for the past
five months. Everything is upside down and the boys don’t want to play
anymore. Whatever they want to do, I’m with them. They are right for
fighting for their rights.”
“The country already has a bad image, but through football it
has got some good image, but still they won’t let us play. I have begged
these boys, but I cannot do more than what I have done to get this team
up to this point. I have done my best and now I am tired.”
The NFF in a statement denied ordering the players to return their
Jerseys back to the NFF's office in Nigeria after the Olympics, but
Siasia also slammed the report, saying they were ordered to return their
kits.
”The NFF ordered that they bring back
the jerseys (from Brazil). Siji Lagunju (of the NFF technical
department) was directed to bring the jerseys back to the NFF.”
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