Rio Olympics: How are we going to win gold, if we keep begging for money to take care of our athletes?... Siasia

The coach of the national male U-23 side, Dream Team VI, Samson Siasia, has raised doubts over the ability of his lads to win gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, come August.


The tactician raised the alarm while speaking to the media at the team’s training base in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Having confessed that his team’s performances have been fare applaudable, Siasia said: “we cannot be going for gold and we are begging for money.

“It is not a good image to go to the Olympics while trying to beg for money around [actually begging people for money to take care of the Nigerian Olympic team]. How are we going to win gold, if we keep begging for money to take care of our athletes?” asked the coach.

“We don’t have money. We are in the (United States of) America now without any money. So, it is a big problem.

“We are without any money in our pocket. There are no funds coming from anywhere. That is not a good thing. When you have players who are not motivated and encouraged, you [can’t] demand a miracle. Everybody needs to be encouraged at one time or the other.

“We just want to appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to come to the rescue of sports in the country as our father and sports-loving President.

“The sports sector is dying and it is adversely affecting the Olympic teams that have qualified to represent Nigeria at the Rio Olympics Games, not just football [but the other seven sports that Nigeria will compete for medals in Rio].

“Even the Nigeria Football Federation [is affected]. Everybody is borrowing. But this has to stop.This has to stop. President Buhari has to help us by approving some funds for our Olympic teams to prepare well. If the funds are not there, how are we going to prepare to win gold?”

Siasia’s team will play two warm-up matches in the USA before they depart to Brazil on July 29.