I’m yet to receive reward for Atlanta ’96 triumph - Bonfrère Jo

Johannes “Bonfrère” Jo, the former coach of Nigeria's U-23 team, asserts that he has yet to receive any reward or official recognition from the Nigerian government for guiding the Dream Team to a historic football gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Thirty years after this significant achievement, the Dutch tactician feels his contribution has gone largely unacknowledged, contrasting sharply with the national honors, houses, and cash rewards bestowed upon many members of the victorious squad.

“

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.

Bonfrère, now 80, expressed his disappointment in a recent interview, stating, “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.” He further revealed a deeply painful incident: the loss of his Olympic gold medal. “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,” he recounted, describing it as one of the most painful moments of his career.

“

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.

The former coach detailed his repeated attempts over the years to seek recognition from the relevant authorities, but with little success. “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,” he said. Bonfrère masterminded one of Nigeria's greatest sporting achievements, where the Dream Team, featuring stars like Nwankwo Kanu and Austin Okocha, defeated Brazil and Argentina to secure the gold medal.

“

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.