Former Super Eagles player and Assistant Coach, Daniel Amokachi, a.k.a ‘The Bull’ has lambasted former Schalke 04 player, Chinedu Obasi for claiming that he was dropped from the Super Eagles team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Brazil because he refused to pay a bribe.
Amokachi who was Assistant Manager to late Shuaibu Amodu and Stephen Keshi, said; “Why come forward with such now when the man in charge is no longer alive to answer it?”
“Even look at it, this happened in 2014 and 6 years after, you are coming forward with such claims.”
“Why wait until now? It does not make sense to bring such an issue when the head is no longer alive to respond to you?”
For those who don’t know, Chinedu Obasi had in an Instagram Live chat recently, divulged that; “I was playing for Schalke, I was playing in the Champions League and I was doing well. Two days before the list came out, I was asked to pay some money if I want to be in the team.”
“I felt like I’ve paid my dues for the country, I shouldn’t do this. If I was a young player, maybe I would have done that, but it was a bit personal for me and I felt very heartbroken. I was supposed to move from Hoffeinheim to England and I got injured playing for Nigeria at the World Cup in South Africa.”
“After that competition, nobody called me to know how I am doing. I spent a lot of money to get fit. All people talked about was the injury. They don’t care to know what I went through on a daily basis making sure I get my body in shape, to stay healthy.
“It takes a lot of dedication, money, investing in myself and my body. I went through surgery, did everything I can. Now a competition is coming up, you’re inviting me to the national team. I’ve exhausted my own money and you want me to pay, which is a slap in the face for me.”
“I said I’m not comfortable doing that. They said I should know the system, and I should act like I’m a Nigerian. I said it’s not about being a Nigerian but doing the right thing.”
“I’ve kept it close to my chest since 2014 because you’d have unnecessary enemies when you talk. People who played in lower leagues went to that World Cup. I’m not taking a jab at anyone.”
“If you’re good for the World Cup, then you should go, but I feel like if you have to take the best and at the time, I was playing for a top team, Schalke 04 which was among the top team in Europe at the time.”
“Funny enough, after the conversation, it got a bit more personal. They told me that even if I end up going as part of the team, their own agent will negotiate that deal. I said it doesn’t sound good to me.”
