The last is yet to be heard of Nigeria's chaotic
preparations for Rio 2016 as team captain, Mikel Obi has revealed just
how much he was involved behind the scenes. Speaking with goal.com
the Chelsea midfielder said:
"I think if we talk about the money that I put into the team I think it was more than [£30,000] but we just had to do it.
"I said to myself, 'I won’t let this happen. If I can help, I’ll try to help'. Sometimes there was no food, sometimes there was no pitch to train on, there was no bus to go to the training ground. So all of this was what me and the coach had to figure out, and get money together.
"I came to the camp. I sat down with the boys in Atlanta and I could see the frustration, the pain and the anger. Their aim was to play in the Olympics, their goal was to play in the Olympics.
"And for me being there and seeing what they are going through, they are young boys, they want to start their career and someone in the ministry is trying to crush that dream."
On the now infamous incident which saw the team arrive Rio
with just hours to spare after haphazard travel arrangements he said:
"There was just no flight provided by the Nigerian ministry. "We planned
to leave three or four days before the tournament, but we ended up
leaving the day of our first game. It was a difficult one. I don’t think
I have ever seen something like that before, it was crazy.
"[After our last minute flight] we got to the hotel,
dropped our bags, grabbed some sandwiches, something to eat. A little
bit of food. Then headed straight back to the stadium because we hadn’t
even done our accreditations then, so we had to go there and wait in the
line, do our accreditation.
"It was absolutely hectic. I don’t know how we managed to go onto the pitch and win that game, it was absolutely mind blowing."
He also spoke of his pride at winning bronze, Nigeria's only medal at the competition.
"Sometimes I wear my medal around the house, it gets my
missus jealous," he joked as he showed off his medal. "The kids love
playing with the medal. I am sure one day they will know what this
really means."
Still on the problems the team faced en route Olympic glory
he said: "We had lots of problems outside the pitch, but I always told
the boys that you shouldn’t let that affect what we came here to do. We
still want to achieve what we came here to do. We still have to
represent our country and play for ourselves and our family and the
people of Nigeria.
"So if the ministry don’t want to take responsibility, we
have to make sure we play for ourselves and our country. The boys
understand that and we made sure they went along with my message that I
kept putting across to them every single day and we managed to achieve
what we did achieve."
True son of his father. It shall be well with Mazi Obi. Buhari spent six months searching for a sports minister and the best he could find was Dalung. That tells u that Buhari is a big fraud. He came to enrich himself and his clan period. Is Buhari not aware that Dulang is not qualified to be sports minister?
ReplyDeleteThis is what you get when a nation is govern by power mongers; who believe power must come from certain region; who believe they were born to rule;.Who in his cabinet is qualified; from finance to Agriculture to women affairs; this administration is a disaster
DeleteGood for him
ReplyDelete...merited happiness
Nice one my Chelsea man
ReplyDeleteZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ReplyDeleteMIKEL HAS BN PAYING FOR SOLOMON DALUNG'S SCHOOL FEES SINCE 1960...HE IS USED TO PAYING FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGED...HE PAID BONARIO NNANGS'S UNIVERSITY EDUCATION...CRAZY ONE LAUGHS...Freeborn is gonna weep AGAIN...
JEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
THANK YOU
Odogwu na chelsea
ReplyDeleteAnd one bad belle person will come out and say it's not true
ReplyDeleteHe try! Linda take note!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteIs there any investigations going on as to this shameful incident in the Ministry today? I have always say Nigeria Olympic team are accidental participants.
and more embarrassment for this FG and it's ministry of sports...
ReplyDeletegd 4 u
ReplyDelete-D great anonymous now as Vivian Reginalds
Even I just reading it feel do much shame and embarrassment.......I can only imagine how the boys felt. God bless patriots.
ReplyDeleteBig guy
ReplyDeleteVery kind of him
ReplyDeletethank God you were there, What if, What if u weren't, what would av happened to the team. let say the boys played for you. i i wee never agree they played for Nigeria after reading this. Buhari well done o.
ReplyDeleteThis made me cry...mikel you so nice am sorry to have ever insulted in the past this is pure love for a team i love you more now...never ever commented here but this won my heart. Kip d good work it will pay off much more later in d future.this is wat we call true leadership
ReplyDeleteThis made me cry...mikel you so nice am sorry to have ever insulted in the past this is pure love for a team i love you more now...never ever commented here but this won my heart. Kip d good work it will pay off much more later in d future.this is wat we call true leadership
ReplyDeleteSmh for enemies of progress in my country Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteNff should better refund him his money!
ReplyDeleteComment my reserve
ReplyDeletea.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said...
ReplyDelete.
Dude is an heroe....
.
.
***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
Thank you for helping this government out. The shame is just too much.
ReplyDeleteWhat you do for your country
ReplyDeletePMB has lost his mojo else that boy scout Minister of sport should have been showed the way out. He seems to be more clueless than his beret! Smh
ReplyDeleteThank God he was der.
ReplyDeleteu're a big
ReplyDeleteOf course you would Mikel cos u need the medal more than Nigeria to become Nigeria's most decorated sportsman
ReplyDeleteSee The Magnificent WINGS Building in V.I
God bless you
ReplyDeleteAmen
DeleteOKORO UPGRADED
I thought he denied this before?? Can't wait to hear what the minister of Sports have got to say about this.
ReplyDeleteEnter your comment...tuale! u a legend in mind. proudly naija 1st. great compatriot.
ReplyDeletethat part of the responsibility a true leader bears and carries.. Putting the interested of the nation first... God Bless
ReplyDeleteGod bless u mikel
ReplyDeletewhy is the minister not fired yet, this is the reason the same thing keep happening over and over again. The minister has no excuse, The Olympics is done every 4 years giving people enough time to plan. There is nothing that works in Nigeria because there is no accountability; when people start taking responsibility for their actions then the much needed change will come.
ReplyDelete-Tina
God bless you guys for making us proud regardless of all that u'al when thru..
ReplyDeleteD dumb ministry of sport will still deny al dis
Okkk
ReplyDeleteBuhari's Government - chaos! Incompetence and wicked!
ReplyDeleteHE'S REALLY A GOOD GUY
ReplyDeleteAUNTY LINDA 👩
GOD bless u my guy,because we have a bad president, nothing can be done to that useless sports minister.wat a shame
ReplyDeleteGod will continue to increase you o jare..
ReplyDeleteone even wonder which sector is not complaining under this present leadership in the country.what bunch of unserious Ministers that are only obeying Buhari instruction and allowing everything to crumple under thier watch.
ReplyDeletewere is the lalong
ReplyDeleteGod bless u bro,
ReplyDeleteThe sports minister and every every that is involved should be sacked.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you in abundance.... Mikel obi...
ReplyDeleteI think its high time pple in Nigeria football house especially the ministry of youth n sports call their senses to order, if we want to make our sports grow in this country not in this way of neglecting their responsibilities. Can u imaging country like Cape Verde been rate higher than Nigeria in football ranking?
ReplyDeleteThat one is just change.he did well though!
ReplyDeletesays, Genevieve.
M not suprise that dalung is not good in anything
ReplyDeleteMay God bless u richly mikel, u n ur household will not see Shame bcz God used u to remove Nigeria's shame.
ReplyDeleteI no fit shout sha God bless you guys i hope PMB dey see him #changebeginswithme
ReplyDeleteI hope y'all can see that the problem with this country is not the people but leadership. I keep saying that Nigerians are hardworking people but are so unfortunate to have selfish leaders. Deapite this whole mess, this people won d third leg. To the team, Nigerians are so proud of u and to our clueless leaders, well, i wont curse u cos God says we should pray for our leaders but may y'all pay for every hardship u ve caused to Ngerians
ReplyDeleteLINDAAAAAAA!!! THE INTERVIEW SAYS OVER 30,000 POUNDS AND YOUR HEADING SAYS OVER 30,000 DOLLARS. NNE, BIKO STOP CONFUSING YOUR READERS.
ReplyDeletede gods are wise!
Weldone baba ibeji
ReplyDeleteWell done
ReplyDeleteMikel well done job Nigeria government is a shame honestly
ReplyDeleteMikel well done job,shame to Nigeria government honestly
ReplyDeleteNo wonder they called him "odogwu".
ReplyDeleteNo wonder they called him "odogwu".
ReplyDeleteWell-done mikel .minister of sport were art thou ?
ReplyDelete