Buhari to Redeem 30-year-old Pledge to 1985 Golden Eaglets
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured the Nduka Ugbade led Golden Eaglets who won the inaugural FIFA Under-16 World Cup in 1985 that his administration will fulfill the promises made 30 years ago during a reception held at Dodan Barracks with the players, in celebration of their outstanding victory in China.
According to the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the president, Mr Garba Shehu, Buhari said it had been brought to his attention that a directive which he gave to the state governments at the time had not been complied with.
“It is a pity that those promises were never fulfilled. It is unfortunate that our players, who did us proud on the world stage went unrewarded for their efforts, despite a presidential directive to the state administrators that they be honoured in their home states,” observed the president in the press statement.
He noted that of the various promises made to the players at the time, only the Federal Government fulfilled its own commitment--by sponsoring the players on a trip to watch the 1986 World Cup, which took place in Mexico.
The houses, scholarships and naming of streets after each player were supposed to have been catered for by the states.
The statement noted that shortly after the commitment was given, the military administration under General Muhammadu Buhari was replaced and that despite repeated representations made to succeeding governments by the players and their officials, the promises made were left unfulfilled.
“I apologise for whatever embarrassment and disillusionment these raised and then dashed hopes may have caused you.
“My government will do all within its power to remedy the situation,” pledged President Buhari in the euphoria of the 2015 class of the Golden Eaglets repeating the feat of the Ugbade led Eaglets 30 years after Buhari returned to power in Chile last Sunday.