The Rangers defender took the Nigeria Football Federation to the cleaners for their refusal to pay allowances and stipends to players and coaches
Dr Mohammed Sanusi, General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, has responded to claims made by Super Eagles star Leon Balogun that the football body has been subjecting players and coaches to inhumane treatment.
In a no-holds-barred interview on the beautiful game podcast earlier reported by Soccernet.ng, Balogun expressed his dissatisfaction with how the NFF owes the Super Eagles players' allowances and coaches' salaries.
The Rangers defender equally complained about the quality of the pitches and accommodation the NFF has provided in recent times for the national team.
In response to the former Mainz centre-back's criticism, Dr Sanusi stated that the poor state of the National Stadium, Abuja, necessitated the use of other Stadia to host matches involving the three-time African champions.
The NFF scribe also pointed out that the challenges and disruptions caused by the global coronavirus pandemic were the reason behind the financial crisis facing the organisation.
“We have never denied owing the team,” Dr Sanusi told the NFF website.
“Leon is a senior player that everyone respects for his quality output on the pitch and calmness and forbearance off it, but I do not know which reports he was referring to when he said the NFF was contradicting itself.
“He also talked about playing pitches. Sincerely speaking, the past few years has seen a remarkable improvement in stadia infrastructure across the country.
“The team had to move around the states because the turf of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, got bad.
“Now, the pitch is coming back to shape thanks to the efforts of the present Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare, who got the respected Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s company to work on it.”
Dr Sanusi confirmed that the nation is now blessed with top-quality pitches in Uyo, Benin City, Asaba, Kaduna
and Lagos, which can be credited to the NFF's policy of rotating the Super Eagles' home venues.
The NFF also pleaded with the players, coaches, and administrative staff to bear with the body as it tackles the challenges of unpaid salaries and bonuses.
Is talking about covid 19 but is not stopping there salary only coach and players affect, God will help us for all the selfishness leader we have in our country
The truth of the matter is that NFF needs to pay them. Nigeria should be above this salary issue by now. NO EXCUSE!!! These guys have families. When you pay them timely you have control. And they will put their best but NFF doesn’t understand that. I just don’t understand when it comes to money NFF are not open. Lol
Salaries and bonuses deficits has always been the things of the NFF, it’s very unfortunate and shambolic that over the years, the office has been occupied by Polish rougs who are only out to feed their pot belly stomach. The CREED OF GREED is in the DNA of the NFF.
Since 1990s I started following super eagles, NFA have been owning players bonuses and promise them house and fail to fulfill it