Chelsea Mid fielder, Mikel Obi has denied reports 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 said;
"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."
Mikel 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.
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