The former Super Eagles star recently had his life ban reduced to five years, but he claimed the Federal Government abandoned him during his travail
Former Nigeria coach Samson Siasia has revealed that he received no support from Nigeria’s Federal Government during his battle to have his life ban from football overturned.
Siasia was handed a life ban in 2019 from all football activities by FIFA for his involvement in match-fixing with notorious Singaporean match-fixer Wilson Perumal.
The ex-international claimed his innocence and took his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). After two years, Siasia finally received some good news as CAS reduced the life ban to five years while the £40,000 fine he received was also overturned.
However, Siasia has expressed his disappointment with the treatment he got from the Federal Government, saying he never received financial support from the President or the Ministry of Sports.
“This my issue is a government problem, but up till today, we know Buhari is the President, Siasia said at a press conference in Abuja.
The Minister of Sports when he came in, I met him, he told me he knew about my problem, but they don’t have money, and that was it.
“I thought what he would have done is go to the President. I am a legend; I have played, broke my leg for this country and also coached.”
“If I played for America – yes, I have an American passport, but I played for Nigeria – if I was like Michael Jordan, they (American government) would take it upon themselves.”
The Nigerian government has not done well when it comes to my case,” he added.
But the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, has responded to Siasia’s accusations. Dare accused the former Nantes star of lying about lack of financial support as the government gave him cash- although he failed to reveal the amount.
“Samson Siasia is not telling the truth, the Ministry and the Federal Government will come out with the facts, the cash he collected and the efforts we made, Dare said.
“He is not telling the truth. ”
“The government & my ministry will reveal soon the amount of cash he got,” he added.
Siasia’s statement comes after the government revealed they would redeem the housing pledge made to the triumphant Super Eagles 1994 Africa Cup of Nations squad, of which Siasia was a member.
View Comments
Siasia and so many persons wait for what is not possible.
Why wait for Gvt when so many like me responded to his financial plea and made our tiny assistance.
He shld let it all go,the circumstances within which he was involved was purely personal and if his kond of friends were not ones who deal in such, with all due respect to his person, they wld bot rope him into the shit.
However, good to know he is out of the financial mess after his mums double kidnap case.
I'm very happy foe him on that count.
Sis one should not have smelt that "shit" in the first instance, he is a legend that's right, the fact that they reduced the life sentence to five years shows he walked in the way of corruption and as a role model he disappointed many but he should "dust" himself and be focused on the ball, Nigerians still appreciate his patriotism, the fact that some responded to his sos plea is an indication that Naija pole love you, but you must move on for the love of the game.
What sense have you made?. Passing judgement that he was involved. He was involved and he took the case to the court of albitration. A country were they don't support or protect their own
Shame on the Nigeria govt.... Very irresponsible for the sport minister not to state the amount giving to siasia. When they promised to give 10,000 to okwaraji's mom and yekini, was it not stated? Clueless administrator....