Yesterday marked exactly 30 years since Nigeria’s Dream Team stunned the world by defeating Argentina to win the men’s Olympic football gold medal, becoming the first African nation to achieve the feat at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Since that triumph, only Cameroon has matched the achievement, winning the Olympic men’s football gold in 2000.
Former Dream Team coach Johannes Bonfrere has now called out the Federal Government, expressing disappointment that it has failed to fulfil the promise made to reward him three decades after guiding Nigeria to one of the country’s greatest sporting achievements.
Bonfrere led a star-studded side that featured Nwankwo Kanu, Austin Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Taribo West, Celestine Babayaro, Garba Lawal and Emmanuel Amuneke.
Nigeria produced one of the greatest runs in Olympic football history, defeating Brazil 4-3 in a dramatic semi-final before coming from behind to beat Argentina 3-2 in the final at Sanford Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
The 80-year-old Dutchman also revealed that the Olympic gold medal he received after Nigeria’s famous triumph was stolen, alleging that it disappeared while in the custody of a team official.
Bonfrere described the incident as one of the most painful memories of his time in Nigerian football, lamenting that despite leading the Dream Team to Africa’s first-ever Olympic football gold, he was denied the government recognition he was promised and also lost the medal that symbolised the greatest achievement of his coaching career.
Speaking in an interview with Punch, Bonfrere said that although the players and other members of the team received cash rewards and national honours, the Federal Government never redeemed the pledge made to him.
“They were claiming that everyone has received their rewards, but I have not received anything; they have never given me the reward for winning the gold medal,”
“Even my gold medal was stolen from me, and I still didn’t get a reward from the government, which all the players have received, including players who were not on the list.”
The Dutch coach also recounted how his medal disappeared, adding that he would be grateful if the Nigerian government finally remembered him after years of unsuccessful attempts to seek redress.
“I don’t know how the medal was collected from me; I only know that when the players went upstairs, an official stopped me from going with them and the medal was gone.”
“I will be happy if something can be done because I have made several calls and sent messages but nobody was interested in helping me.”
