Kadiri Ikhana Commends Minister of Sports Over N500,000 Support

Kadiri Ikhana Commends Minister of Sports Over N500,000 Support

By Niyi Busari

Former Super Falcons and Nigeria U23 coach Kadiri Ikhana has commended the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare over the sum of Five hundred thousand naira given to him, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Ikhana, in October 2019 appealed for financial support for a niggling hip injury that needed major surgery.

The former Super Falcons coach while speaking with BSN Sports thanked the minister for his kind gesture and appreciate him for all assistance rendered for ex-international and their families.

"In March this year, the minister pledged to give me with Five hundred thousand to support my hip surgery treatment. I am very happy and just want to appreciate and thank him for all he has been doing to support ex-international including my humble self." Ikhana told BSN Sports on Sunday

"I want to also thank the Alliance hospital, Abuja who shouldered the treatment bill of over Fifteen Million naira (N15 million) for three different hip surgeries.

"On Friday the Ministry of Youth and Sports gave me Five hundred thousand naira (N500,000)." He revealed.

"Last year, Victor Moses was the first person to give me money, he gave me One million naira (N1 million), then the Nigeria Football Federation also gave me One million (1 million) naira, Ministry of Sports gave me Five hundred thousand (N500,000), Felix Anyansi gave me Two hundred and fifty thousand (N250,000) while Imama Amapakabo gave me One hundred thousand N100,000).

"While I was in the hospital, I used some of the money to purchase drugs because I don't want Alliance Hospital to be bothered with money for drugs after rendering free services of surgery operations." He concluded.

The former Enyimba International FC coach in December 2019 was discharged from Alliance Hospital Abuja after two successful surgery operations.

Sunday Dare fulfilled his N500,000 promise on Friday 12th June, 2020. The same day Moshood Abiola National Stadium was unveiled by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The 68 year-old coach played club football with Bendel Insurance, winning the league in 1979 and the FA Cup in 1978 and 1980.

Ikhana represented Nigeria at international level, playing for them in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches at the 1980 Summer Olympic Games. He won the 1980 African Cup of Nations with Nigeria.

Ikhana managed Nigeria's Enyimba, winning the African Champions League in 2003. He was awarded CAF's Coach of the Year that same year. In 2004, he was manager of the Nigerian men's Olympic team.