NFF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
The Nigeria Football Federation says it has initiated moves to ensure the unmasking of the self-acclaimed Nigerian who got on the train with the Super Falcons in Vienna, Austria on Tuesday and made the players uncomfortable with inflammatory political talks.
Team officials explained on Tuesday afternoon that the girls, who had been in the Austrian capital since Thursday preparing for upcoming international engagements, opted to have a view of the city after their morning training, and decided on public transport to the city centre.
The guy, whose claim to be a Nigerian was much doubtful from his accent, launched into abuses against the girls for representing Nigeria, and kept saying that no one could touch him because that would amount to assault as he had not touched anyone.
His tirade did not unsettle the girls in any way as he was ignored throughout, and the disciplined response infuriated him the more.
However, Nigeria’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon told thenff.com that the matter has been immediately reported to the Austrian Police and the Embassy of Nigeria, and the fellow, who was bundled out of the train at the next station, would be fished out.
“It is unfortunate. The girls were on the way to the city centre which was just a few minutes from the hotel. They entered this train and the guy got inside and started insulting them. He was bundled out at the next station and we have reported the matter to the Embassy of Nigeria and the Austrian Police. We have never had this kind of case with any of our teams and lessons have been learnt and we will be guided appropriately going forward.
“This incident will not in any way affect the team’s camping programme and they will remain in Austria until Saturday, 24th July as scheduled.”
President of the NFF and FIFA Council Member, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick said the NFF will immediately report the matter to world football –governing body, FIFA and would pursue the case to its logical conclusion.
“We are infuriated because these are young ladies who are our ambassadors and are there in Austria preparing for major international competitions. That was a dastardly act by that fellow and we are not taking it lightly. The girls simply wanted to go on sightseeing and there is nothing wrong with that. They do not deserve to be subjected to such diatribe by a so-called fellow Nigerian.
“We will unmask the fellow and then take it from there.”
The NFF wants to unmask someone they threw out or bundled out “at the next stop”? When? The NFF claimed to have reported the incident to the police. what was the reaction of the police?
Granted his accent does not sound Nigerian but he spoke Hausa/Fulani to one of NFF’s representatives who responded or retorted in Hausa/Fulani.
The man stated that he once played for Julius Berger of Lagos and that it was the Nigerian government’s corruption that pushed him out.
The man’s points are valid and he has every right to be aggrieved, but he targeted the wrong group; that there was killing during the end SARS peaceful protest, to paraphrase him, that the president has sympathy for terrorists, and that his government is run like a terrorist organization. These ladies were representing Nigeria and not Buhari.
Finally your “girls” as you called them did not maintain decorum as you claimed, some of them abused the guy. The guy even noted that one of the girls recently became a citizen of Switzerland.
The fault lies with the NFF who should have provided the Super Falcon players with a team bus, even for sightseeing, plus adequate security at all times. The ladies should never have been put in a position to defend themselves.
If The NFF can not report an incident that was shared with the world, that many people have watched, and their statement does not match what we see in the video (shared above), how can Nigerians trust them to tell the truth on more serious issues? What more lies have they told Nigerians about what goes on in the federal ministry?
Other than be threatening an aggrieved protester on the train in Austria, they should be advising the president to focus more on the terrorist/bandits and the terrorists that are shooting down Nigerian armed forces’ jets, killing their soldiers and the citizens on Nigeria. These kinds of energy being used on hounding, harassing and arresting innocent citizens of the country should be used on arresting the real criminals, the real danger to the union of Nigeria, the bandit/terrorists and the terrorist that are enjoying a free reign under the watch and the leadership of Mr. Buhari.
They should also focus their energy on providing adequate transportation and security for the wellbeing of the players.
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