Coach Samson Siasia, who led the Nigerian Dream Team to a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio olympics, has admitted that he does not know how he offended the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung.
Siasia clashed with Dalung, after he complained about the poor working conditions for the Dream Team VI, as they prepared for the Games.
Dalung denied knowing that the U-23 team were in Atlanta, USA and mocked the coaches for engaging in human trafficking.
“The whole thing surprised me”, Siasia said in Johannesburg, while on a stopover to connect the final leg of the flight from São Paulo to Johannesburg and to Lagos.
“As we speak, I don’t know what I have done to offend the Minister. The whole thing is surprising,” Siasia continued.
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“It’s funny. When he came, he shook hands with us and after shaking the players, he asked where is the coach? Everybody started laughing. We shook hands again and hugged.”
The former Super Eagles coach, who won Nigeria’s only medal at the Games, also stated that his team would have done better.
“The environment before the Games was not good but we resolved to weather the storm. The players gave their best. Without necessarily singling out players, Mikel was outstanding. He not only played well, he also motivated the squad with his leadership qualities.
“Also, injury did not allow us to use some other good players. Anyway, we’re grateful to win something for Nigerians who showed massive support to us,” he concluded.
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