The
junior national team, the Flying Eagles, left the country for a playing
tour of Egypt on Monday without their coach John Obuh. The coach was
left behind following a mild drama at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in
Abuja as he protested the non-payment of his salary allegedly totalling
13 months. Obuh who later spoke to reporters said he was owed three
months and not 13.
The airport showdown came up despite the
Nigeria Football Federation’s earlier statement that all the national
teams’ coaches had been paid their outstanding salaries.
The U-20 Eagles are in Egypt where they
will engage the Egypt’s U-20 side in a two-legged friendly on Wednesday
and Friday in continuation of their preparation for the Africa Youth
Championship in Algeria next month.
Obuh caused a scare just before the
team’s departure when he failed to show up for the journey. The team
were on the verge of leaving without him when he eventually emerged for
clearance for the flight but did not eventually travel.
But an NFF extended staff who was at the airport and was aware of the discussions held with Obuh told The PUNCH that the issue was resolved on Monday.
Obuh himself spoke after meeting with the General Secretary of the NFF Mr. Musa Amadu.
“There is no doubt I am owed about
three-month salaries and not 13 months as being speculated and I hope we
resolve the problems by tomorrow (Tuesday). It is an in-house problem
and the office is tackling them. I will let you know the outcome
tomorrow.
“I have not been paid any money as
reported neither have I received any alert of payment through my bank so
I wonder why someone would go to press with claims that my salaries
have been paid. I love my job and I have sacrificed so much for my
country and still ready to do more but a labourer deserves his wage,” he
said.
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