NFF responds to Leon Balogun’s complaints on bonuses and salaries

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.