—Supporters Club begs FG to fulfill N50m pledge
As the 2014 World Cup Finals draw near, millions of Brazilians have declared their readiness to give Nigeria’s Super Eagles their maximum support when the tournament gets underway from June 12.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to Brazil, Ambassador Adamu Emozozo, who disclosed this yesterday when members of Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) visited minister of sports/chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Tamuno Danagogo, in his office in Abuja, said already Nigeria’s Embassy in Brazil had intensified mobilization plans aimed at ensuring that Brazilians turn out en mass to cheer the Super Eagles to victory during their matches.
Amb. Emozozo who expressed delight over the effort NFSC in galvanizing support for the country’s senior national team revealed that over 200 million supporters from Brazil will queue behind Super Eagles due to what he described as long term relationship and rivalry existing between them and Nigeria especially in soccer competitions.
According to him, “The Brazilians remembered firstly what happened in 1996 but what we did to Brazil was forgiven because we later beat Argentina.
“Argentina might have bought 29,000 ticket but we can count on 200 million Brazilian in the stadia and home. Brazil is a country that has large population. So, the entire population is waiting for the Eagles to storm Brazil. The embassy is ready to facilitate the performance of the Eagles and the supporters’ club towards a successful outing in Brazil.”
Earlier, NFSC president, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, while presenting a congratulatory letter to the sports minister, told him that the essence of their visit was to solicit for his support and congratulate him on his new appointment.
Dr. Ladipo, however, used the opportunity to appeal to the minister to facilitate the release of N50m which Pesident Goodluck Jonathan promised the club a few weeks ago.
Responding, Dr. Danagogo described the support of NFSC as vital to the success of Super Eagles in Brazil and assured of his readiness to assist them fulfill their mission, adding “Federal Government is aware of your effort and I knew of your great contributions to our national teams which have made them not to be anywhere like orphans.”
