Senate President, David Mark, got a taste
of the national team camp when he held a meeting with the Super Eagles
in Campinas just before their opening match against Iran in Group F of
the 2014 World Cup on Monday.
Mark led the Federal Government delegation to the World Cup in Brazil.
Our correspondent learnt that Mark had
demanded to hear the players’ grievances with the aim of settling the
rift between them and the Nigeria Football Federation over their bonus.
The players allegedly asked Mark to pay them $2m immediately from the
$8m the NFF was expecting from FIFA for the first round matches since he
was the third in authority in Nigeria and representing the President.
The players maintained that they should get 25 per cent of the money.
The players insisted that they must receive their money before their match against Iran, which eventually ended 0-0 in Curitiba.
When it became obvious that the players
were not moved by his presence, the Senate President allegedly became
angry. It was learnt that after the players had spoken that their coach,
Stephen Keshi, who apologised to the FG delegation and the NFF members
at the meeting.
Our correspondent learnt that Keshi’s
apology was received half-heartedly by Mark and the NFF officials led by
Aminu Maigari as they had expected him to step in much earlier.
“Keshi did apologise but that was met with subdued hisses from those at the meeting,” an official, who pleaded anonymity, said.
The FIFA money fight is a carryover from
their USA camp as they had put the NFF on notice over the money before
agreeing to board the flight to Brazil.
Fight over money is not new to this set
of Eagles. Last year they arrived in Brazil late for the FIFA
Confederations Cup after embarking on a strike in Namibia over match
bonus.
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If they are not ready to participate, let them depart Brazil for their respective clubs. Why do we even have to pay so much for entertainment?
ReplyDeleteU sow whatever you reap... Grab grab leaders weren't espperriinniiittt
ReplyDeleteThe love of money above national interest is spoilling the nation.They can not win the world cup.Our leathers should lead by example.When nigerian senators are the highest paid in the world,why wont the Eagles emulate money mongering ideas?
ReplyDeleteCan you work without expecting renumeration, if the clubs termed it just entertainment and did not pay , will football be a lucrative career. After all actors and actresses are well paid world wide.p
DeleteCan you work without expecting renumeration, if the clubs termed it just entertainment and did not pay , will football be a lucrative career. After all actors and actresses are well paid world wide.p
DeleteUr posting rubbish n bein partial. So if u don't give dem d moni,who will u give it to. Do u prefer to give it to federal govt n let dem melt it as usal. 50percent of d moni frm FIFA shld be given to d team. Evry well meaning shld support dem to get d moni. David av no right to be angry,dis moni is not comin to N/A for appropriation. D President shld direct n let dem av woteva dey want. U guys shld not play una politics with our Super engles moni. Giv dem der moni.!
ReplyDeleteOur journalists sometimes help in complicating issues. See how you people are quick to report this but not reporting what led to it. NFF has a history of not doing well with remunerations & compensation of these players. No smoke without fire. If the trust on NFF still existed,our players won't be doing that. They must have gone thru a lot before it got to this . So when you want to report,give us full gist.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tsmplug.com/football/prize-money-fifa-world-cup-2014/ Going by the 576Million USD to be shared, it is not out of place to make such request.
ReplyDeleteThe players are right!!, Why should the senate president be shocked? They are only following the footsteps of our politicians who do nothing yet get all the pay in the world. Idiotic shock that was.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, the federal government did not need to lead a delegation to the World Cup. It probably cost more money for this 'delegation" to go to Brazil than what is owed the team. Nigeria always embarks on these money-spending sprees while priority projects are put aside. Is David Mark and his stupid delegation going to stay in Brazil for the one-month duration of the World Cup? We always look stupid in the eyes of the world beacause of the things that we do. Were other countries represented at the World Cup by a platoon of delgates from their senate? Ofcourse not, because they are not wasteful like Nigeria. Keshi did not need to apologise to Mark and his men, neither did Mark need to get angry because the players spoke their mind. David Mark expected to be treated like a god, and he did not get that treatment, so he became angry. That shows his immaturity. The FG should meet its obligation as agreed upon before camp, and stop wasting money trooping down in white robes in the name of a delegation to a mere sporting event. Mr Senate President, stop wasting the nations money on these frivolous trips!
ReplyDeleteSince the money wa given to Nigeria for qualifying for world cup then their is nothing wrong in giving in to their request as they are directly involved.
ReplyDeleteThey deserve 25% of the money. The job has no pension scheme.
ReplyDeleteNonsense. Pay them their money. Isn't it their job they are doing? Why shouldn't they get paid? And why is senate president vexing? If they were not collecting sooo much money from the federal government, will he do his job for free or accept to be paid 25%? Let's face reality. Give to ceaser what belongs to ceaser
ReplyDelete