Former vice-captain of the Flying Eagles squad to the 1983 FIFA U-21 World Cup in Mexico, Paul Okoku, has urged Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, to include the scholarships promised members of the team by the federal government into a supplementary budget to be presented to the National Assembly for prompt passage.
He recalled that the 1983 Flying Eagles squad were promised scholarships by President Shehu Shagari immediately after the tournament in Mexico City.
Okoku noted that the presidential proclamation was yet to be implemented by successive governments, causing untold hardship to many of the members of the team.In fact, while waiting for the fulfillment of the scholarship, some members of the team, like captain Ali Jeje, have died, albeit in penury, prompting renewed calls for the redemption of the presidential declaration before other members of the glorious team die unrewarded. (Vanguard)