“I’m not lying, NFF hijacked N134 million Japanese billionaire gave Siasia’s boys” – Peterside insists
Nigeria won her first Rio Olympic’s medal (“Golden” bronze) after the men football team beat Honduras 3-2 on Saturday. It’s the first since 2008.
The feat may, however, be overshadowed by a multi-million naira “scandal” currently rocking the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper and sports analyst Idah Peterside said the NFF hijacked a $390,000 (N134.9 million) donation Japanese billionaire Katsuya Takasu gifted the team.
The NFF said Peterside lied. It said the federation only wanted to receive the money and hand it over to the boys. It said it was part of the Nigeria’s government “integrity check”, and that sports minister Solomon Dalung was aware of its intentions. The federation added it hadn’t even received the money as Peterside claimed.
“Why should I lie when my source is large, very large?” That is Peterside’s latest response to the NFF.
Why should I lie when my source is large,very large https://t.co/vFLCqYPiHR
— idah pee (@IdahPeterside) August 20, 2016
Peterside gave the response after our correspondent engaged him on Twitter. He, however, stopped short of naming his “very large” source who could be Team Nigeria captain Mikel Obi or coach Samson Siasia.
An alleged reference letter by the Nigerian embassy in Japan indicated the money was to be handed directly to Siasia and Mikel.
Nigerian players, according to Peterside, fear the money would never reach their hands should the NFF get hold of it first. They allegedly had an altercation with NFF officials before the Honduras game.
Takasu offered the players and coaches the money after learning of their financial woes which made Nigeria a global laughing stock.
The NFF still has a case to answer for allegedly lying that it paid for the Delta Airline tickets the lads flew to Brazil. It appears the airline rendered the service for free..
