Solomon Dalung, Nigeria’s minister Sports, has said the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, has not been fair to the U-23 coach, Samson Siasia, who quit the team during the week.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after a private meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Villa, Dalung condemned the withdrawal of Siasia’s official car by the NFF.
According to the minister, Siasia did not deserve to be treated that way as he was an asset to Nigeria and thus be treated with respect and dignity.
“NFF has not been fair to him. The withdrawal of Siasia’s official car by the NFF is condemnable. Siasia is an asset to Nigeria, but unfortunately we are a country where good people are like wheel barrows. They are only useful when they are needed,” Dalung said.
“When he visited me on Monday I told him I heard that he has resigned and he said he had not, but that his contract has ended. Then I invited the General Secretary of NFF (Mohammed Sanusi), because there was this report I read that I directed that his car be withdrawn while he was away.
“He (Sanusi) confirmed that Siasia’s car was indeed withdrawn. I then sought to know why this would come up while the man was on a national assignment. I then told him (Sanusi) that this was unacceptable,’’ he added.
Dalung expressed the hope that Siasia would put behind him all the issues surrounding him and the NFF, even as he lambasted the federation over its poor relationship with coaches.
Dalung was also a thorn on the U-23 team at the just concluded Olympics in Brazil. It is, however, shocking to see him lambaste the NFF.
