President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Pinnick says it is true that players of the senior national team of Nigeria have not been paid their bonuses for two years now.
The issue of unpaid bonuses was raised as part of why majority of the players who were called up for the international friendly game against Cameroon on Friday pulled out of the game, but Pinnck said that wasn’t the case as they were genuinely injured.
In an interview with Arise Television monitored by the editorial team of Owngoalnigeria.com, Pinnick argued that the players don’t survive on national team bonuses inferring that they earned more than that at their respective teams.
He also said the players need the national team to add value to their career and as a board they have ensured that the team gets the best of treatments when they travel for games. He said the players know and appreciate the effort of his board.
“Players did not back out because of the fact that their bonuses were not paid . No Nigerian national team player survives on bonuses or allowances”, Pinnick said.
“The national team adds value to players and we are not proud that we are owing. A lot of circumstances in the last two years made us not to meet up with our obligations.
“Thankfully the players know we are always there for them. Since we came on all what we do for them. We have given them all the necessities and luxuries.
“Since I came on the players fly on chartered flight in all our games. They stay in the best hotel any country that war go. The players understand that. Countries adds value to the players.
“In some countries they wait till the end of the year before calculating all the bonuses and pay even in England”, he remarked.
