The Nigeria Minister for Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has in a way confirm reports that Chelsea star, John Obi Mikel is currently catering for the welfare of the Nigeria male football team for Rio 2016 Olympics.
Although the Nigeria Football Federation and the player have come out to deny reports about the Chelsea star funding the Nigeria Olympic team, the press release from the office of the minister, suggest otherwise.
Dalung in a press release made available to press men, criticised the Nigeria Football Federation and other officials of the Nigeria Under-23s for bringing to the public glare, the dire state of the team finances, that has stopped them from arriving Brazil, few days to their first game.
In the release, Dalung confirmed he appealed to Mikel to bail out the team due to the fact that his ministry were not carried along by the NFF prior to their departure to Atlanta for camping, ahead of the Olympics.
Asking Mikel to cater for the team, as rightly pointed out by the minister, could also involve the Chelsea star taking care of their financial needs as well.
“There is no doubt that the ministry was not considered while plans were being made for the Olympic football team. Nevertheless, we shall intervene to remedy the situation. I have appealed to the captain to assume control of the team and restore sanity” He said in the press release.
“For officials who decided to violate the code of their profession and take to media rampage to secure cheap blackmail, their conduct will definitely be measured with existing rules. We have decided to restore sanity and discipline in Team Nigeria”.
