Mitchell Obi Quizzes NFF President On Unpaid Bonus Saga

Mitchell Obi Quizzes NFF President On Unpaid Bonus Saga

By Gbenga Gboyega

The Executive Vice Chairman of Master Sports International Limited and President, AIPs Africa - Mitchell Obi has quizzed the President of the Nigeria Football Federation - Ibrahim Musa Gusau on a sports show on radio regarding the unpaid bonuses and allowances endured by the Super Falcons.

BSNSports.com.ng reports on Ibrahim Gusau's responses to renowned sports journalist, administrator, and stakeholder - Mitchell on the “Sports Salsa” radio show which aired on Kennis 104.1 FM.

During the course of the show, Mitchell asked Mr. Gusau on any attempt to settle the outstanding bonuses and allowances due to the Super Falcons players.

"Well, you see, people are just trying to be going up and down with this issue," Gusau responded with a straight tone.

"Their outstandings have been for more than two years, and you can ask yourself, why didn’t they talk about it until when they got to Australia? 

"If you have an outstanding for over two years, is that the time that you create a distraction for yourself? A lot of people were doing a lot of things to cause distractions to the team," he said.

Head Coach Randy Waldrum was first to speak up days before the team left the shores of Nigeria for far eastern Australia before rumors emanated from the team's camp about a possible boycott of the World Cup opening fixture against Canada.

Professional Footballers' welfare organization - FIFPRO, was the latest to add its voice to the ongoing brouhaha between employee and employer, and Gusua blamed the narrative as a distracting and discouraging tool.

"We are at a point when people need to be putting encouraging words to these girls, so that, at least, they will have confidence to build up. 

"But so many people are trying to instigate so many things, in order to divert their attention in order to create a lot of distraction."

NFF's uno numero did not hold back in commending the performance of the Super Falcons in spite of the issues while promising to resolve the debt hovering over the Federation.

"They had one of the best performances leading up to the tournament, with most of them being friendly matches, and others being qualifiers which go back to almost three years.

"But as I have said, we are ready to pay them their money. And even when FIFA gives you money, they are very specific about what you are going to do with it. 

"It is only when we have the money that we can use it to pay such kind of payment. The prize money we are getting from FIFA can be used to pay any outstanding and the coach of the Super Falcons. 

"That is what we will do and we will not have any problem," he said.