John Mikel Obi has denied
media reports making the rounds in Nigeria that he gave 30,000 dollars
to his team –mates in the U23 team presently camping in Atlanta, USA.
Speaking from the team’s camp at the Hyatt Place, the Captain of Team Nigeria to the Rio Olympics was furious:
“I was first told of this unfortunate story by a
friend who called me from Nigeria. I thought he was joking until he sent
me the link. I don’t know the source of this story which to me is all out to
divide us as a team. I would have thought that stories that should be
coming out in the media are stories that will unite the team instead of
dividing us. Our target in Rio is to excel, but if they continue like
this, then I wonder how we can be united.”
Wondering why the writer thinks that the players are hungry that
needed his money, Mikel asked:
“Tell me the players who are in this team
that are so hungry that will be looking up to me for survival? Is it
(William) Ekong, (Oghenekaro) Etebo, (Shehu) Abdulahi, (Daniel) Akpeyi,
(Kingsley) Madu, (Okechukwu) Azubuike or (Stanley) Amuzie, who are my
team –mates in the Super Eagles, that I will be donating to, or other
players who are plying their trade abroad and are doing well for
themselves? To me, this is just mere distraction that won’t help this
team going into a major tournament like the Olympics.”
The Chelsea FC ace then appealed to the sporting press and Nigerians
generally to rally round the team and wish the players and officials
well as they get ready for the men’s football tournament of the Rio
Olympics.