SEVERAL members of the Super Eagles squad of 1994 have expressed their gratitude to two ministers over the fulfilment of the long-standing promise to reward them with houses.
The former stars paid courtesy visits to works and housing minister Babatunde Fashola and sports minister Sunday Dare in Abuja on Thursday in appreciation of the Federal Government’s delivery on the promises made to them for winning the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia.
After qualifying for Nigeria’s first World Cup and winning the AFCON title in 1994, the military government then led by the now late Sani Abacha promised to give each member of the Super Eagles squad a house, but many of the players and team officials never got their rewards until recently.
The squad, represented by the stand-in captain Augustine Eguavoen, Alloy Agu, Victor Ikpeba, Benedict Iroha, physical trainer Edema Steven and Daniel Amokachi, the Special Adviser on Sports to President Buhari, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for finally fulfilling the promise 27 years after.
“Looking back at the promise made in 1994, which is 27 years ago, and our reality today we cannot thank President Muhammadu Buhari enough,” Eguavoen said.
“We are also grateful to the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola and our boss, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare.
“We remember those of our colleagues who are no longer with us like our official captain, Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, Wilfred Agbonibavre, Uche Okafor and Thompson Oliha and are happy that their children can now benefit from their fathers’ labour.
“This will also send a message to those currently playing that Nigeria will not forget your labours, even if it is late, it will never be denied.”
Dare said he would continue to prioritise the welfare of sports men and women, promising to ensure that the policy he put in place to take care of active and retired athletes receives good attention.
He added that his ministry would make sure a continuous reward system will outlive him as sports minister.
Fashola said the reward, although 27 years behind schedule, was confirmation of the will of the present administration never to forget past heroic and patriotic acts.
“Government may be a slow burner and the wheels may turn slowly but it will turn,” the former Lagos State governor and keen football lover said.
“President Buhari takes the credit for this. He is assuring us all that every patriotic work will be rewarded and all promises made kept. This is not just in the area of sports but across all segments of our national life.”
