-Coach and Players Feted to Honors and Rewards
NIGERIANS in large numbers turned up at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International
Airport in Lagos on Tuesday to welcome African soccer champions Super Eagles upon their arrival from the host country of South Africa.
The arrival of the eagles put a cap on the activities that heralded their crowning as champions, nineteen years after they last achieved similar feat.
Back then, the team was captained by the same man who led them to victory on Sunday, against all odds. Although Stephen Keshi led as the captain of the Super Eagles squad in 1994, his leadership role this time around was different: a coach.
Although news had percolated through various media sources in the last 48 hours that Mr. Keshi had thrown in the towel after completing his assignment with the Eagles for the 2013 edition of the African Cup of Nations, it later emerged that delicate power was probably at work within the rank and file of Nigeria’s heavily politicized sports administration.
In the end, the presidency waded in as high stake meetings were held in Johannesburg where, it appears, Coach Keshi was convinced to shelve his resignation plans.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Bala Mohammed, who led other top officials of the administration to receive the Eagles had a tough time gaining entrance into the arrival hall of the airport as the crowd surged, resulting in a stampede.
Residents, including women as well as school children who lined the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua expressway leading to the airport, also waved as the convoy headed to the stadium.
Security agents watched helplessly as the surging crowd smashed the glass doors in the ensuing euphoria and stampede, which also temporarily paralyzed other official airport activities.
Beaming upon his emergence at the airport in Abuja on Wednesday afternoon, Keshi and his players arrived to a major fanfare awaiting them.
Tight security was noticed around the airport as the champions were heralded to waiting transport vehicles that took them to a public reception at the National Stadium in the heart of the Federal Capital City, where they were treated to a grander reception.
The Minister of State for the FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide, and Neo-Black Movement (NBM) of Africa commended the Eagles for making the nation proud.
Akinjide was elated by the fact that the senior national team was led to victory by a Nigerian coach, Stephen Keshi and also assisted by Assistant Coach, Daniel Amokachi, a Nigerian.
She and the group (which issued a statement by its national president, Bemigho Eyeoyibo) noted that the team displayed a high level of commitment, dedication and patriotism.
According to them, the team’s victory restored the nation’s pride and positioned the country in its rightful place as Giant of Africa in football.
President Goodluck Jonathan rounded off the celebrations a few hours later at the State House where he feted them like kings. The state banquet was not only about eating and dancing alone as the president announced a wide-range of gifts, including national honours, for the players and their handlers in appreciation of their efforts in bringing back Nigeria’s soccer glory.
Super Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Keshi, was N10 million richer courtesy of the Federal Government. In addition, he was conferred with the nation’s fourth ranking national honour – Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Each of the players got N5 million and were conferred with the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).
The team captain, Joseph Yobo, who also got a cash gift of N5 million like other players, was, however, conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
All the assistant coaches also got N5 million each and were also conferred with the national honour of OON while the technical officials got N2 million each.
In addition to the cash gifts and the national honours, Jonathan also announced that each member of the team will get a plot of land in Abuja, the nation’s capital. The allocation papers were presented to them at the ceremony.
The president also announced donations from individuals such as Chairman, Globacom, Dr. Mike Adenuga ($1m); former Managing Director, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu- ($500,000) and Sir Emeka Offor ($500,000).
The nation’s leading entrepreneur, Alhaji Aliko Dangote gave a cash gift of N5 million to each of the players.
At the event, which started two-and-a half hour behind schedule, saw Jonathan acknowledging the superlative accomplishment of the Super Eagles noting that it was an “awesome achievement for which you deserve a praise from a grateful nation.”
He also noted that the victory of the team is the most precious gift that the Super Eagles had presented to the nation so close to its centenary celebrations next year.
