27 years after Olympic glory, Taribo laments unfulfilled promises

<p>Olympics gold medallist and Super Eagles legend Taribo West has lamented unfulfilled promises to the men’s football team 27 years after they became the first African side to win an Olympic Games gold medal at the 1996 edition in Atlanta, USA.</p>, <p>The retired footballer also claimed that the land allocated to coach of the team Dutchman Bonfrere Jo in Lekki, Lagos had been hijacked.</p>, <p>Thursday August 3 made it exactly 27 years the ‘Dream Team’ soared to victory, clinching the Olympic gold medal in Atlanta, Georgia after beating a Bebeto-inspired Brazil side 4-3 in the semis, before overcoming Argentina 3-2 in the final.</p>, <p>However, while they shone on the global stage and brought pride to the whole of Africa, Taribo, who is now a pastor, said they had not been properly rewarded almost three decades later.</p>, <p>“We have not been celebrated, apart from the time we came in with our medals from Atlanta and former military Head of State, Sani Abacha, held a reception for us in Abuja and gave a lot of money out, but I only saw N1m. From the competition in Atlanta in 1996, the only money that entered my account was N1m that I received personally from Abacha,” Taribo told The PUNCH.</p>, <p>“There were no houses given to us, the only thing we received was landed property that Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who was the Governor of Lagos State then, gave us.</p>, <p>“I heard many other state governors gave us money but we did not see anything, the Nigeria Football Federation was just playing divide and conquer here and there, but when it came to them giving us the money, you won’t see anything. You will just read figures in the papers, but at the end of the day, you won’t see it.</p>, <p>“The Bonfrere land gift in Lekki Phase 3 was hijacked, and as I speak with you, we are still struggling to make sure the land is given back to him. It is only in Nigeria that you labour for something but you won’t be allowed to enjoy the fruits. We have nothing to show for the tournaments we went to, the only thing we get is criti