Legendary Nigeria winger, 2000 Olympics gold medalist berate Flamingos' monetary rewards 

Former Nigeria international and key member of the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Nigeria, Segun Odegbami and Sydney 2000 Olympics Gold Medalist for Nigeria in the 4x100 relays Enefiok Udo-Obong have hit out at the monetary reward system for Nigeria's age grade teams in international football and other sports.

Nigeria's U-17 women's national team the Flamingos returned back to the country this week with the bronze mdal from the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India and there are beliefs  that the team will be honoured by PresidentMuhammadu Buhari with cash prizes.

This has irked the distinguished stars who spoke on different fora on the subject. 

Speaking on Sports Parliament, on the network service of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Odegbami said there is something else much more important than money currently in the careers of the players. 

"What is more important to these girls should be their education. At their age, they should be in school and then play football as well.

"If really they are 17 year-olds, then money shouldn't be the priority now. I would like to see the government offer them scholarships," Odegbami affectionately known as 'Mathematical' in his playing career stated. 

On his part, former athlete, Udo-Obong while speaking on Sports in general and football in particular during the Sport Impact Africa conference organised by media organization, Sports Vision in Lagos Thursday and Friday (November 3 and 4) had this to say: 

"We need to review our reward system in sports. The U-17 girls are already being promised money but I believe that if a player of the U-17 is not in the secondary school, such a player should have no business in the national team," Udo-Obong said at the event put together by ace Sportscaster, Deji Omotoyinbo. 

The Flamingos have already received some cash rewards from some sections of supporters including Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa who doled out the sum of N3m to them. 

Izuchukwu Michael

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