Former captain of the Nigeria national beach soccer team
(Super Sand Eagles), Isiaka Olawale, has appealed to the Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF) to pay their entitlement for attending the 2017 FIFA Beach
Soccer World Cup in Bahamas.
Olawale, who made four FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
appearances for Nigeria, claimed all efforts to make the country’s football
ruling body come to their plight following their group stage exit from the
tournament two years ago have proved abortive.
“It has not been
easy for us to get what we worked for and since we came back from Bahamas, up
till now that I am talking to you, they have not paid us our entitlements which
should be around N600,000 for each player,” Olawale told Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com.
“We were 12 players and about five officials that
attended the tournament. But if they want us to carry placards, we will do
that. A member of the team, Ogbonnaya Okemiri still asked me about the
allowance two days ago. For how long will I continue to pacify them? As the
captain, I tried to control the players because everything is on my neck.”
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| Isiaka Olawale of Nigeria battles for the ball with Matteo Marrucci and Gabriele Gori of Italy during the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 group B match. |
Olawale said he had repeatedly reached out to the
leadership of the NFF including several messages to its President Amaju
Pinnick, First Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi, Second Vice President Shehu Dikko
as well as the NFF Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi but all to no avail.
“We met NFF
President, Amaju Pinnick on our arrival into the country in 2017 and he assured
us that our entitlements will be taken care of,” the former Kwara United,
Dolphins and El-Kanemi Warriors player further told Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com.
“It’s just for
Pinnick to give the directive for the money to be paid but up till now we have
not heard from the federation.
“I have spoken with NFF First Vice President, Seyi
Akinwunmi and he assured us that the money will be paid. I have sent messages
to Second Vice President, Shehu Dikko,
NFF Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and so many of them but up till now,
no response.”
But NFF’s Director of competitions, Bola Oyeyode told our
correspondent that he was not aware of the issue.
“I am not aware, I over see so many teams. It is the
secretary of the team, Sunday Okayi, who will be in better position to answer
if they have been paid or not. I didn’t see any complaint from any player on my
table,” he told Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com.
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