BEVERLY HILLS, December 09, (THEWILL) – The Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has denied remarks purportedly attributed to him saying the government was not expecting the Super Falcons that won the African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) trophy last Saturday to emerge victorious.
Dalung in an interview with State House correspondents on Thursday, in explaining the reasons for the delay of the payment of bonuses and allowance of the players stated that: “Don’t forget that nobody even knew the team would emerge victorious.
“If we were confident they will emerge victorious, all the Federation would have done is to plan for process of participation and entitlement.”
However, the Minister, on Friday, claimed that he was misquoted.
“May I conclude by trying to put into proper perspective an impression that has made national headlines to the effect that the Federal Government was not anticipating the victory of the Falcons and so could not have planned for it,” he said.
“This statement was attributed to myself. I want to categorically state that this is a statement taken out of context.
“And I cannot imagine or reconcile how. The commitment of the federal government to the support of the Falcons is indeed overwhelming.
“That explains why the Vice President himself had to abandon his tight schedule to visit the players in camp that is evidence of preparations for victory.
“The federal government was prepared because it has records of the antecedents of the performance of the players. The challenges we have today which has to do with their welfare is being given attention.
“We are working around the clock to see how to raise fund to address the issue of their bonuses.”
Story by Oputah David
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