Victorious Golden Eaglets Get N2Million Each -

coach and other members of the
team also received donations from
President Goodluck Jonathan.
President Goodluck Jonathan on
Sunday announced N2million cash
gifts for each player of the
triumphant Golden Eaglets Under 17
team, who defeated Mexico on
Friday to win the world cup a record
fourth time.
The president also announced
N3million for the Head Coach and
N2.5million for the assistant
coaches. The team’s physiotherapist,
received N500 thousand, its
secretary received N500,000, while
the team technical officer, team
coordinator, curator and medical
officers will all get 300 thousand.
He also announced that the team,
the handlers, the coaches and the
officials including some key
members of the supporters club and
the Nigerian Football Federation will
all be given national honours.
Shortly before announcing the cash
rewards which he said was just a
token, Mr Jonathan urged state
governors and businessmen women
to support the team and host them
their own way.
In his speech, Mr Jonathan said he
was pleased to host and honour the
players who he noted that by their
outstanding performance and victory
had brought pride not only to the
nation but to the country.
The president, who recalled that he
was hosting the team for the second
time- the first being when they won
the second place in the African
Under 17 football Championship-
said he had charged them to go
ahead and conquer the world.
He also recalled that after the poor
performance at the 2012 Olympics
he had called for reforms in the
respective sporting areas. This he
noted had brought about the
successes being recorded in the
sports sector adding that it did not
come as a surprise.
He said this was a golden era in the
sports sector and the victory was not
just for Nigeria but for the whole
Africa.
“You won squarely and convincingly
and we are very proud of you” he
said.
“To the crew who have nurtured this
team to greatness, I thank you for a
job well done. If we can conquer the
world at age Under 17 there is no
reason we cannot win at the senior
level. They cannot afford to relax on
today’s laurels but you must
continue to train, guide and care for
them. This is a world class team and
they must remain world champions
from category to Category and from
one tournament to the other,” he
said.
The Chairman National Sports
Commission, Gbenga Elegbeleye, in
his remarks said they were told to
go and conquer the world and that
second position was not an option.
He added that he was glad that they
were in the villa to present the
trophy to the President.
Minister of Sports Bolaji Abdulahi,
said following the team’s victory,
President Jonathan is now the most
successful president in the sports
sector.
He also said the success of the team
was not an isolation, but is
attributed to the Mr Jonathan’s
administration’s transformation
agenda.
The minister also noted that the
players were selected strictly on
merit and the idea was to build a
solid football team. The coaches
have not only succeeded in building
a good team but also patriotic
Nigerians.
Mr Abdulahi added that winning the
world cup was not the end but the
beginning for the under 17 which he
said was not just a team but a
project.
The Mexican Ambassador to Nigeria,
Marco Antonio, presented the
Nigerian and Mexican jerseys to the
president.
Vice president Namadi Sambo,
senate president David Mark and his
wife, speaker of the House of
Representatives, Governors of Cross
River, Bauchi and Akwa Ibom; deputy
governors of Imo, Plateau, Kogi,
Niger, Kano; PDP Chairman, Deputy
Speaker House of Representatives,
attended the event.

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