By Sunday Agunbiade
The coach Imama Amapakabo-led Technical crew of the National U23, The Dream Team are on their knees praying and pleading with the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare to consider paying them their allowances.
Almost three years after their failed bid to clinch the ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the team officials were yet to be remunerated.
The team crashed out of the U23 Africa Championship in Cairo, Egypt and could not grab one of the tickets to represent Africa in the Tokyo Games. Their barren outing with South Africa at the Al Salam stadium was the straw that marred their participation in the Tokyo Games.
The technical crew’s efforts during their preparation for and participation in the continental championship is yet to be recognised, and are pleading that let their efforts not be in vain.
Among the team officials were Chief coach, Imama Amapakabo; assistant coach, Kennedy Boboye; second assistant coach, Fidelis Ilechukwu, goalkeeper’s trainer, Ettah Egbe, team co-ordinator, Dahiru Sadi, and Abdulsalam Kayode, the physiotherapist. Others include Suleiman Ohida, the team doctor; Sharif Abdallah, the media officer; Tayo Egbeleye, the team secretary and Chile, the curator.
