*Keshi gets N10m, conferred
with CON
*Assistant coaches, players
get N5m each , conferred
with OON, MON
By Ben Agande, Abuja.
President Goodluck Jonathan
Tuesday night conferred on
members of the victorious
Super Eagles national
Honours for their feat in
winning the African Cup of
Nations, nineteen years after
Nigeria attained that feat.
This was in addition to cash
donations of ten million
naira for the Head Coach,
Stephen Keshi and five
million naira each, to the
assistant coaches and the
twenty three players that
took part in the
championship.
In a well attended ceremony
at the banquet hall of the
Presidential Villa, the
President also announced
that each member of the
team and the technical crew
would be allocated a plot of
land in the Federal Capital
Territory, Abuja.
Announcing the national
honors, President Jonathan
conferred Coach Stephen
Keshi with the honour of
Commander of the order of
Niger (CON) while the
assistant coaches and
captain of the team, Joseph
Yobo were conferred with
Officer of the Order of Niger
(OON). Other members of the
team were conferred with
Members of the Order of
Niger, (MON).
The President who
announced cash donations
from other Nigerians
including $1million from Mike
Adenuga (Jnr) to the players
and $200,000 to Stephen
Keshi while Africa’s richest
man, Aliko Dangote donated
five million naira to each of
the players.
Other cash donations
announced by President
Jonathan include $500,000
each from Emeka Ofor, Jim
Ovia and Tony Elumelu.
President Jonathan told
members of the team that
their victory in South Africa
has, “put a spring in our
steps, golden smiles on our
lips and has indicated that
Nigeria is a land of
opportunities.
“Not many people believe
you could win. Inspite of the
skepticism, there was no
despair.
“Your victory is a good
indication that there is
victory for us as we work
hard to transform Nigeria.
We will continue to give
sports its pride of place. The
major lesson of your victory
is that no matter the number
of people who doubt you,
never doubt yourself”.
For coach Stephen Keshi the
president told him ” you
have my full support” adding
that the “qualification of the
team for the 2014 world cup
in Brasil is your next agenda
and you must not fail”.
The president emphasised
that the feat achieved by the
team was an indication that
“we must not let our
differences define us” noting
that whether it was “moses
or Musa, Chistopher of
Mustapha” that scored, it did
not matter to Nigerians.
See more photos here
In his speech, the Minister of
Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi said
the victory of the Super
eagles “is another moment
of national rebirth. It is a
breath of fresh air.
As we celebrate, we are not
unmindful of the
responsibilities this bestow
on us. We waited for
nineteen years. We cannot
wait for that long again.
“We have won it and I
congratulate the president.
Winning this trophy is not
destination. The sporting
arena is complex. We should
put all the years of rancour
and acrimony behind us and
stop creating problems
where non exist.
The victory has shown that
with determination and unity
of purpose, we can achieve”
he said.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/02/afcon-super-eagles-player-get-cash-national-awards/