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Youth and Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has said that the Nigeria’s U-23 Dream Team VI will not be given winning bonus except the camp allowance given to all athletes of Team Nigeria.
According to Barrister Dalung, the players’ grievances had to do with match bonuses, camp allowance and the 5 months’ salaries owed Chief Coach Samson Siasia.
The minister said that the remaining camp allowance for 11days was paid on Saturday while the team are not entitled to match bonus during games.
“I spoke with the captain of the team John Mikel Obi and I explained to him that match bonuses are not paid to players except during the World Cup or Africa Cup of nations but not in Olympic or Commonwealth Games. This is their first appearance at the Olympics so the players may not know that they don’t pay match bonus at games.
“We have paid all outstanding camp allowance for the Rio Games qto the players so we owe them nothing. On the salaries of Siasia, the federation has admitted that they owe him for 5months. He was owed before he agreed to take the team to Atlanta so, making it an issue now after qualifying for the quarterfinals is not in the interest of the country.
“I have appealed to the coach and the players to put the country first before personal interest. All other issues that need to be addressed will definitely be addressed after the Olympics,” the minister said.
The players have since resolved to allow peace reign and focus on their game.