Members of the Super Eagles squad of 1994, on Thursday in Abuja, paid courtesy visits to two members of the Federal Executive Council – The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola and the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare
in appreciation of the Federal Government’s fulfillment of promises made to them for winning the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.
In 1994, the Super Eagles made their maiden appearance at the FIFA senior World Cup finals in the United States of America after emerging African Champions a few months earlier in Tunisia.
In appreciation of their triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON), the Sani Abacha led Federal Government of the day promised house rewards for the players and officials of the team, a promise that had remained largely unfulfilled until now.
Sports Minister, Sunday Dare and Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola during the occasion
Represented by the stand in captain of the team Augustine Eguavoen, Alloy Agu, Victor Ikpeba, Benedict Iroha, physical trainer Edema Steven and Daniel Amokachi, the Special Adviser on Sports to President Buhari, the former players expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for making good the twenty seven year promise.
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“Looking back at the promise made in 1994, which is twenty seven years ago and our reality today we cannot thank President Muhammadu Buhari enough,” Eguavoen opened up during the visit, “we are also grateful to the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola and our boss, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare.
“We remember those of our colleagues who are no longer with us like our official captain, Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, Wilfred Agbonibavre, Uche Okafor and Thompson Oliha and are happy that their children can now benefit from the fathers’ labour.
“This will also send a message to those currently playing that Nigeria will not forget your labours, even if it is late, it will never be denied.”
In his own remarks, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare said he will continue to push the welfare of sports men and women to the front burner, promising to ensure that the policy he put in place to take care of active and retired athletes receives good attention.
He added that his Ministry will make sure a model for continuous reward system that outlives him as Sports Minister and endures the test of time is put in place.
For the Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola, the reward although twenty seven years behind schedule is confirmation of the will of the present administration never to forget past heroic and patriotic acts.
“Government may be a slow burner and the wheels may turn slowly but it will turn. President Buhari takes the credit for this. He is assuring us all that every patriotic work will be rewarded and all promises made kept. This is not just in the area of sports but across all segments of our national life.” Fashola concluded.
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COMMENTS
Am so happy for these and those lads of the 1994 squad, thy labour of our heros past shall never be in vain.
“We remember those of our colleagues who are no longer with us like our official captain, Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, Wilfred Agbonibavre, Uche Okafor and Thompson Oliha and are happy that their children can now benefit from the fathers’ labour.
“This will also send a message to those currently playing that Nigeria will not forget your labours, even if it is late, it will never be denied.”
I can’t believe this. This was a great opportunity for the 1994 players to air their grievances and let the authorities know how they really feel about this unfortunate issue! But instead of doing that, they resort to boot licking?
Well, if this is how the players feel, no problem. Why should fans be more aggrieved at this injustice than the players themselves? What is the point of going to a funeral and crying louder than the bereaved?
If the players are ok with being compensated 27 years after the fact, then we the fans are ok with that too! Congrats, guys! Thumbs up!!!
@Pompei..I believed that there are series of engagements before this official event and at one such occasion..the issue might have been raised and addressed. Moreover..some of the players are doing well without the reward and have build houses & business empire for themselves.
That’s right, Gbenga. However because players are comfortable financially doesn’t make what happened acceptable in any way.
Besides, if they had raised the issue before, that was in private. This was a chance to do it PUBLICLY, with the media being present.
Indeed, the officials have done well for remembering and finally fulfilling promises made 27 years ago. However, grievances and criticism should still be PUBLICLY raised to provide proper closure for the injured parties.
I am sure the players are thankful because they got what they never thought they will get again. And more importantly if they will vent their anger, it will not be against this administration that fulfilled the promise for them irrespective of how low we score Buhari’s govt. What if like other administrations they ignored them, what would they have done? I see no wrong in the players appreciating those who did the right thing for them.
You are too much. A round of applause for your detailed comments. You spoke well.
@pompei, i understand you clearly but if you consider how unfaithful and how untruthful our govrn is you will know that for this promise to have been rivist and even fufilled by this present administration one can just give at least little credit to them.
Our society is not a rewarding society for excellent rather will celebrate criminals and bad politician.
So if promise of 27yrs that appears to be completely forgotten can be revisited. Then may be, just may be patrotic citizen still have hope.
I hear you, Yinkus.
Better late than never, even if it is 27 years late!
But atleast they should have expressed their real feelings and not the other way round
E don do. There is a bad and ugly thing about it. There is also a positive thing about it. But in all, we have to move forward believing that things will get better and work it out. Following the the words and laid down plan of Mr Dare, let his talk be done from henceforth…. If not, rewards of sports personalities fit reach 50years before fulfillment… Pls I beg to leave here
They should vent their anger on the previous government that did not fulfill that promise of 27 years. Do you know how many minister of works and sport minister that we’ve had since that time. Even when the government was earning stupendous revenue, no one deem it fit to remember the pending pledge. This ministers too could have ignored the pledge the same way the previous ones did. But they choose to stand out and fulfil that pledge. They deserve nothing but praise and accolade from us and the 94 class. Kudos!
Well done job . Same should be extended to our soldiers who fought the Boko Haram terrorist in north east.
Kudos to the current administration to have fulfilled the promise made over 27years ago. Life of sports men and women should be utmost in the heart of every administration, Mr. President I think it’s high time you found solution to the issue of insecurities in the country. God bless Nigeria.