Presidency To Receive Eaglets, Others, Jan 21

Grassroot football in action

The Presidency has fixed
January  21 as date for the Presidential reception for the victorious Golden Eaglets.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung announced this at the weekend  in Abuja in an interview with newsmen.
The Eaglets defeated Mali 2-0 to win the FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Chile last year.
The minister noted that the reception would include other individual athletes and teams that won laurels for the country in 2015.
“January  21, 2016 has been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari as a day for the reward of all those who have made us proud in sports.
“Indeed, the Federal Government has approved a comprehensive package for all the athletes and this is not limited to only football but to even scrabble, basketball and all other athletes that made the country proud.
“The recommendation is subject to the approval of the President and since it is a package, it cannot be unveiled until that day,’’ Dalung said.
He maintained that a society without a reward system was not worthy to live in.
Dalung commended Nigeria sportsmen and women, noting that their achievements in recent time was an indication that sports development was gradually taking its rightful place in the country.
“Nigeria football and other sports are progressing very well, looking at Nigerians that got awards recently and the result of our outing in recent time.
“We hope that as we approach the Olympic Games, Nigeria will also put up a wonderful performance,’’ he added.