I’m yet to receive Olympic gold medal won in ’96 – Bonfrere Jo
Written by MAX FM on August 11, 2020
A former coach of the Super Eagles, Johannes-Franciscus Bonfrere, says he is yet to receive his Olympic gold medal more than two decades after leading the team to victory in Atlanta, USA.
The Dutch technical expert was in charge of the Nigerian under-23 football team that won Africa’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in football at the 1996 games.
Bonfrere managed the team which had quality players like Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Emmanuel Amuneke, Sunday Oliseh, Daniel Amokachi, Celestine Babayaro, Taribo West, Victor Ikpeba, amongst others.
The team defeated Brazil 4-3 in the semi-final before beating a very coordinated Argentina side 3-2 in the final.
In an interview with BCOS TV, the former Super Eagles coach said that 24 years after leading Nigeria to the glorious outing in the USA, he is yet to receive his gold medal.
“I have not been given the Olympic gold medal we won in 1996. After we celebrated our victory over Argentina at the final, I was prevented from climbing the podium to receive my medal.
“They said mine was not available. I was annoyed and refused to return with the team to Nigeria. I went to Holland instead. It is unfair that after bringing glory to Nigeria, I was denied of my rewards,” he said.
Recall that in June 2018, minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, handed over the keys of a house allocated to Bonfrere in fulfillment of Nigerian government’s pledge to him 26 years ago for winning the 1994 African Cup of Nations.
