Former Youth and Sports Minister, Jim Nwobodo, and Dutch coach Johannes “Bonfrère” Jo have offered contrasting accounts of the circumstances surrounding the coach’s reward and the alleged missing medal, 30 years after leading Nigeria’s Dream Team to Olympic football gold at Atlanta ’96, The PUNCH reports.
Nwobodo, who served as the first executive Governor of Anambra State between 1979 and 1983, was appointed Minister of Youth and Sports in 1995 during the military administration of the late General Sani Abacha and was in charge when Nigeria achieved its historic success at the 1996 Olympic Games.
The Dream Team defeated Argentina 3-2 in the final of the men’s football event on August 3, 1996, becoming the first African country to win Olympic football gold. A day earlier, Chioma Ajunwa had become the first Nigerian to win an individual Olympic gold medal, winning the women’s long jump.
Marking the 30th anniversary of Nigeria’s historic Atlanta 1996 Olympic triumph, the 80-year-old Dutchman told The PUNCH he remains disappointed that the Nigerian government has yet to recognise or reward his contribution to one of the nation’s greatest sporting achievements. Bonfrère also revealed that the gold medal he received after leading the Dream Team to Olympic glory was stolen, claiming it disappeared while in the custody of a team official.
Reacting to the Dutch’s allegation, Nwobodo said Abacha fulfilled the government’s promises to the victorious team and their coach, including the allocation of land.
“After beating Argentina in that historical final, Abacha fulfilled the promise. If there was any delay, it must have been from the civil service,” Nwobodo told The PUNCH.
“Abacha said they should be given lands anywhere they wanted and they were all given, including the coach, Bonfrere Jo. That was the golden era of our football and it was called the Dream Team.”
However, Bonfrere Jo, in an interview with The PUNCH, had disputed Nwobodo’s account, insisting that he did not receive the reward promised to him and that his Olympic gold medal was also taken away.
Furthermore, Nwobodo said he was unaware of any complaint from Bonfrere Jo during his tenure as minister.
“Not when I was there. Nobody would have done that if I knew. I couldn’t have allowed it. It was a golden period of our football, and how can I allow somebody who made it possible to be cheated? Something must be wrong,” Nwobodo told our correspondent.
“He did not complain. If he had, I would have solved it. If Bonfrere Jo had complained to me about the fact that they refused to give him his promise, I would have acted fast.
“I didn’t know about his medal either. How can someone take his medal and I would keep quiet? I would not do that. If I knew, I would have acted immediately. He never told me.”
But Bonfrere, in another chat with The PUNCH on Wednesday, maintained that he made several attempts to get attention without success.
“I have phoned and written to government people and I have been to the Government House two or three times with some other chief, but he didn’t have time to see me.
“I was there two times in one day at the Government House. I have done many things to contact somebody but didn’t get any reply. And he knows. He was one of the officials who stopped me from going up with my players,” the Dutchman said.
Former Nigeria defender and member of the 1996 gold-winning team, Taribo West, also claimed in a 2023 interview with The PUNCH that the land promised to Bonfrere Jo had been hijacked.
“The Bonfrere land gift in Lekki Phase 3 was hijacked, and as I speak with you, we are still struggling to make sure the land is given back to him.
“It is only in Nigeria that you labour for something but you won’t be allowed to enjoy the fruits. We have nothing to show for the tournaments we went to, the only thing we get is criticisms in the media,” Taribo said.
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