John Mikel Obi’s father, Pa Michael Obi, has stated in no uncertain terms that he is disappointed with the Federal Government over the treatment of the team after winning bronze at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
He said speaking to Punch that he’d expected the U-23 team to be given a hero’s welcome when they got back to Nigeria.
What had happened instead was that most of the players just jetted to their clubs to continue with their respective seasons.
Nigeria won only one medal at the Olympics which was the Bronze medal won by the U-23 team.
Mikel’s father said, “I was surprised to read that there are no plans to receive the team. It is very unfair, especially after the team won the only medal at the Games,
“The least they had expected was a hero’s welcome and a presidential handshake to appreciate their superlative performance, especially when nobody had expected that they would go far at the Games.
“I had expected Mikel to lead the team back to Nigeria, accorded a befitting reception, before going back to their various clubs.
“This is what an appreciating appreciate sports authorities and the Federal Government would have done. We are all aware of the shoddy preparations for the Games and how they were stranded in another country before they got to the venue, a few hours to the start of their first game against Japan.
“Despite this, they struggled to make the country proud and if this is all they could get for their efforts, I think it’s very unfortunate.”
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