Pa Michael Obi, father of the national Under-23
team captain Mikel Obi, has expressed his disappointment over the treatment of
the team after winning bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Pa Obi said that he had expected his son to lead
the team to the country to be given a rapturous welcome and a presidential
reception, but lamented the majority of the players left for their clubs
after beating Honduras 3-2 in the bronze medal match to win Nigeria’s
only medal at the Rio Games.
“I was surprised to read that there are no plans
to receive the team.
“I had expected Mikel to lead the team back to
Nigeria, accorded a befitting reception, before going back to their various clubs.
“This is want an appreciate sports authorities
and the Federal Government would have done. “We are all aware of the shoddy
preparations for the Games and how they were stranded in another country before
they got to the venue, a few hours to the start of their first game against
Japan. Despite this, they struggled to make the country proud and if this is all
they could get for their efforts, I think it’s very unfortunate.” “The least
they had expected was a hero’s welcome and a presidential handshake to
appreciate their superlative performance, especially when nobody had expected
that they would go far at the Games.
“I had expected Mikel to lead the team back to
Nigeria, accorded a befitting reception, before going back to their
various clubs.
“This is want an appreciate sports authorities
and the Federal Government would have done. “We are all aware of the shoddy
preparations for the Games and how they were stranded in another country before
they got to the venue, a few hours to the start of their first game against
Japan. Despite this, they struggled to make the country proud and if this is
all they could get for their efforts, I think it’s very unfortunate.”
No comments:
Post a Comment