Kaduna governor fulfils 30-year promise to Atlanta 1996 Olympic champions

Thirty years after Nigeria’s Olympic football triumph in Atlanta, Kaduna Governor Uba Sani has fulfilled a promise to members of the gold-medal-winning team by allocating them plots of land and naming streets after some squad members.

Former Super Eagles player Daniel Amokachi praised the governor during an inspection of the ongoing reconstruction of Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna. He said the team had received several promises from federal and state governments after winning gold in 1996, but that most had never been honoured.

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When we won the Olympics gold medal in 1996, the Federal Government and state governments made several promises to us, but 30 years down the line, most of those promises were never fulfilled.

“When we won the Olympics gold medal in 1996, the Federal Government and state governments made several promises to us, but 30 years down the line, most of those promises were never fulfilled,” Amokachi said. “But Governor Uba Sani has fulfilled his own promise.”

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But Governor Uba Sani has fulfilled his own promise. He has given myself, Garba Lawal and Emmanuel Babayaro plots of land.

Amokachi said the governor had given land to him, Garba Lawal and Emmanuel Babayaro, and had directed that streets be named after players who had not been formally commemorated. He described the decision to honour veteran footballers and coaches during their lifetimes as commendable.

Lawal, a former Super Eagles player and ex-general manager of Kaduna United Football Club, called the stadium reconstruction a major development that could restore Kaduna’s place as one of Nigeria’s football hubs. “Now, the Super Eagles will not have to go to Uyo to train. This one is right here at my doorstep,” he said. Babayaro said Sani had brought Kaduna’s football community together and that the sport was thriving again in the state.

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Now, the Super Eagles will not have to go to Uyo to train. This one is right here at my doorstep.