3rd August, 2010
Former Minister of Sports, Seidu Samaila Sambawa has advised President Goodluck Jonathan not to give the silver medal winning Falconets at the just concluded Germany 2010 FIFA U-20 Women World Cup any monetary reward.
The Nigerian ladies were beaten to second position in the tourney after a 0-2 defeat by Germany in the final of the competition on Sunday. The Presidency plans to hosts the team to a grand reception this evening and Sambawa prefers national honours to be given to the ladies instead of the government showering them with incentives.
The politician opined that the ladies are too young to get monetary reward, insisting that government can appreciate them with other things than money.
Sambawa, while speaking on Brila FM early today said that it is a good thing that the Federal Government wants to recognise the heroics of the ladies, who made history by being the first African team to play in the final of any FIFA Women World Cup. “I want to believe that giving them cash as rewards may not augur well for their career,†he said.
—Adebobola  Alawode