Divergent views have started trailing the rewards given by President Bola Tinubu to the victorious Nigeria’s female senior national team, the Super Falcons. Super Falcons, who on late Saturday night won their 10th African Women Nations Cup trophy in Morocco were on Monday evening given mouth watering rewards by the President. He gave each player $100,000, three-bedroom flat and a national honour.
Going by the current exchange rate of the local currency, the naira to the dollar each player got the equivalent of N150 million. Some Nigerians believe the reward was on the high side while others feel it was okay
That is obscene—just too high. – Alfred
Speaking with New Daily Prime, a sport analyst and critic, Alfred Joshua, opined that the huge sum given each player was too high. “Given the economic situation in the country, and how we are grappling with tough existential issues, that reward was too high. Only few days ago, retired policemen took to the streets across the country protesting unpaid entitlements. Entitlements that are just too paltry. After serving the country for 35 years, some retired police officers don’t get up to N50,000 monthly as pensions.
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“While I am not saying those who do well in areas like sports should not be compensated for their efforts, they can be given lesser amounts. Also, they would still get flats and national honour. In some climes, the national honour will suffice. The English women national team also won the European Championship for the second time, you won’t hear such a bogus reward from that end.
“The players have the allowances and prize money they would benefit from. If you multiply what each person was given by the number of players, we are talking of billions of naira. Our schools are on bad shape. Teachers are not motivated and medical doctors are threatening strike, haba, we should stop playing to the gallery,” he opined.
There is nothing bad in it- Suleiman Audu
Backing what the President did for the players, another respondent, Suleiman Audu, noted that there was nothing bad in what was given the players.
“The players are mostly professionals and see playing football as their vocation. So, if they make the nation proud and were rewarded for that, there is no problem. Remember that sports, football particularly has become a big business. Don’t we hear how much players are paid in some countries and by some football clubs?
“If they are injured and cannot continue playing who takes care of them. They are on their own. Let them enjoy the fruits of their labour while it lasts and when they can do so. Many former footballers are languishing in poverty and ill health. They just have to ensure they manage whatever they rake in while playing judiciously. It is their time, ” he noted.
