'Peterside has his own agenda' – H
Posted: 2008-09-03 18:13

Safa CEO Raymond Hack has hit back at Idah Peterside following the Nigeria national team spokesman’s outburst regarding the Super Eagles’ delay at OR Tambo International airport.

Peterside lambasted South Africa’s football governing body, claiming inept handling of the Super Eagles’ arrival in the country for their all-important 2010 World Cup\African Cup of Nations qualifier, set for the EPRU Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

“We have had problems with him (Peterside) before and we are tired of his agendas.

“The Nigerian national team was greeted at the airport and the reason for the hold up was because they did not comply with the government’s ruling. Some of the players never had return tickets, only e-tickets,” Hack tells KickOff.com.

“Now no-one at Safa has the authority to go and get people out of immigration. Our protocol people were there, the Nigerian team was transported. We did what we could, but for him to blame us is completely incorrect.

“You know, we welcome Nigeria here and they are very happy. We have always had a good relationship with them and we don’t need this.”

Earlier Peterside told KickOffNigeria.com that the players were left at the airport for two hours and many want to believe that it was a ploy to frustrate the team.

“Out of 14 players that arrived, only three were let through immigration. The rest were held back because they did not have return tickets and we are wondering why they did that,” Peterside said.

“There was no member of the South Africa Football Association (Safa) there. It was left to a Nigerian who works at our embassy, a certain Amokachie, to do his best to ensure that our players got through immigration.

“I thought that since all the players had e-tickets, then immigration would have no reason to insist on return tickets, but they refused,” Peterside fumed.

He told KickOffNigeria.com that only Yakubu Aiyegbeni, John Utaka and Chris Obodo had return tickets and were let through immigration.

“You know they almost missed their connecting flight and we are not happy about the two hour delay at the airport.”

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