The Nigeria minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung has said that he is not the problem of the Nigerian sports and that his resignation, as people have been asking him to do, would not solve the problem.
Answering questions from news men on the poor performances of the Nigerian contingents to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games shortly after his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja on Tuesday, the minister said that the problem of Nigeria’s sports predated his appointment.
He said: “we need to go back to grassroots and groom talents for future competitions. I am not the problem of Nigerian sports because abysmal performance predates my appointment.”
He said that he was in the Villa to president feedback on the outing of the team to the President, saying: “it is normal if somebody sends you on an errand, when you accomplish that task you first and foremost brief that person before you go public to start talking to outsiders.
“So, all I did was to brief the President on our performance, the challenges we had, the progress we made because in 2016 Nigeria was celebrated. These two (Nigerian) athletes (Aruna Quadri and Ukogu) were recognized internationally in Rio; that happening to Nigeria is an achievement. “And I also requested from him the support for getting a date to organize a reception for our dream team that has gotten a bronze medal for us.
“He (President Buhari) also appreciated our performance and thanked us for doing the country proud and keeping the flag flying. He challenged us to do more for the country to move forward in sports.”
The minister pleaded with President Buhari to host the Nigerian contingent despite winning only one bronze medal in football and coming 78th on the medals table even as he debunked speculations making the rounds that Coach Samson Siasia who handled the football team at the Olympics had resigned.
According to him, it was not resignation but an expiration of contract with NFF. He frowned at the NFF’s action for withdrawing Siasia’s official car in Abuja, urging the football federation to think of engaging the coach due to his achievements.
Dalung exonerated Siasia and his team over the $390, 000 donations by a Japanese surgeon, adding that it was not for any personal aggrandizement.
On the issue of hiring a foreign coach for the Super Eagles by the NFF, Dalung said that NFF has not formally communicated to him. [myad]
