President Buhari award 1975 Eaglets team

President Muhammadu Buhari has given each member of
the 1985 Nigeria U17 team the sum of two million naira with
Emmanuel Amuneke’s boys receiving a sum of 1.2 million
for their triumph in Chile.

The team handled by coach Sebastien Brodericks won the
inaugural edition of the Fifa U17 World Cup staged in China.

The leader also honoured sportsmen and women who
recorded success in various sports during his seven-month
old administration.

Players and handler of the 2015 Caf U23 Championship got
N500,000 each while N300,000 went to the assistant
coaches and other officials.

N1.2 million went to players of the 2015 Fifa U17 World Cup
winning Golden Eaglets in Chile, while head coach
Emmanuel Amuneke got N900,000 and N600, 000 went to
the assistant coaches while 300,000 each went to the team
secretary and medical teams and other backroom staff got
200,000 each.

While lamenting the 2012 London Olympics' poor outing, he
pledged his government supports the upcoming Rio Olympic and urged the athletes to continue doing the nation proud in their various sports.

"It gladdens my heart to play host to our athletes who have
made the nation proud at various international
competitions," said President Buhari.

"Nigerian athletes have defiled challenges and always
demonstrated that the Nigerian spirit is indomitable.

"On behalf of all Nigerians, I wish to express my
appreciation to our athletes and officials for their
consistency, determination, willpower and commitment for
success witnessed in recent times.

"I urge the managers of this sector [Sports] to keep up with
the momentum. I wish to assure the federal government will
not relent in its efforts to ensure our sports men and women
continue to excel in international competitions.

"I'm particularly concerned about our participation at the
forthcoming Rio 2016 Olympics Games. Our sour experience
at the London 2012 Olympics Where Nigerian athletes failed
to make it to the podium.

"This administration wants a change in the way we do
things. We must strive to the in the way we manage our
time, financial and physical resources to ensure we success
in the next Olympics. We must aim for optimal performance
in all international competitions.

"I wish to remark that this day event is special to me
because God granted me the privilege to fulfill my promise in
1985 to all the winners of the maiden edition of the Fifa U17
World Championship.

"The reasons for the 30 years delay is well known. It is sad
to note that a member of the team [Awa Ubare] is not here
today.

"In line with our belief that the labour of our heroes past
should never be in vain, we want to say thank to our 1985
Golden Eaglets for the success.

"As we are all aware that the financial of our nation since we
took over last, it is a token appreciation for your effort and
appreciation while competing for Nigeria," he said.