Rio 2016: Dalung Eats Humble Pie, Apologises To Dream Team VI

imageNigeria’s Youth and Sports Development Minister, Solomon Dalung, has apologised to players and officials of the country’s Olympic football team for the circumstances that led to the team’s late arrival in Manaus for its Olympic football opener against Japan last Thursday.

Dalung, a conspicuous presence in the stands as the 1996 champions piped Europe’s best team Sweden in Manaus on Sunday night to reach the quarter-finals with a game to spare, tendered his apology in the dressing room after the game at the Arena Amazonia.

After hugging and exchanging pleasantries with players and officials, Dalung said: “I want to apologise for all the circumstances that led to your late arrival here. I apologise, because I am the head and, as such, I must take responsibility for anything that happens under my watch.

“I’m happy you all have put the unfortunate incident behind you and have shown that you are true heroes by making the country proud with your qualification for the quarter finals. This qualification is unique, as you are the first team to do so in the football event.

“I want to assure you that we appreciate your efforts and I want to say that it’s when a man faces challenges that his true ability is tested. I am sure we all have learnt our lessons and will take the lessons to heart going forward,” Dalung told a cheery team of players.

Dalung then assured the players and officials that all bonuses and allowances due to them would be paid, as he recalled that the team faced similar challenges on the way to winning the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal last year, from where they qualified for the Olympics.

The team’s skipper, Mikel John Obi, assured the minister that the team would not lose focus, as their target was to win the gold medal for Nigeria. T

Dalung visited the team in company of Nigeria’s Ambassador to Brazil, Adamu Emozozo and the permanent secretary in the ministry, Mr. Chinyeaka Ohaa.

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