The Federal Government (FG) has on Monday fulfilled its 25 years long promise to former Head Coach and Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles, Mr Clemens Westerhof for Winning the 1994 African Cup of Nations.
Westerhof had led the Super Eagles to victory at Tunisia 1994 African Cup of Nations and led the team to its first-ever World Cup in the same year in the United States of America (US 1994).
While presenting the letter of allocation to the former Coach, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, noted his contributions to the advancement of football in Nigeria, adding that his efforts ended the frustration of the country to qualify for the World cup.
He disclosed that the former Head of State, late General Sanni Abacha in a bid to honour the Coach as well as his team, promised them a reward package of Housing in Abuja.
The Minister, however, said the presentation of the house allocation letter to the ex-Super Eagles Coach was the fulfilment of the promise made to him 25 years.
To this end, the minister asked the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to work with the Ministry of Youths and Sports to document the lists of ex-Super Eagles, who had been allocated houses and those that were yet to get theirs.
Fashola, however, promised that the ministry would act upon the receipt of the documents.
“Today, we are here to redeem the promise that was made 25 years ago. Football is a place where there is no quota system. That was the area, where Westerhof served us well. He put an end to our frustrating efforts to qualify for the World Cup.
“I just learnt that there are still outstanding promises. I will ask the NFF to document the list of the ex-super eagles players who had gotten the housing allocation and those who are yet.
“The NFF should submit this documentation through the ministry of sports to this ministry (Power, Works and Housing), as soon as this is done, this promise will be done,” he said.
The Minister of Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, who was represented by a director in the ministry, Ms Tayo Oreweme, thanked the FG for the gesture.
Also, the President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Mr Amaju Pinnick, who was represented by Mallam Shehu Dikko, also lauded the FG for redeeming a 25-year-old promise and made case for the ex-Super Eagles who were yet to be given the housing allocations.
