While describing it as a dream come through and fulfillment of his football carrier, Babatunde also commended the President, Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Sports and the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the tremendous support given to him while passing through the injury challenges.
“Doctors told me that it will take me one month to recover from this injury. I have already undergone a successful surgery to correct the fracture in my hand. My club knows everything about the injury and we have being in constant touch. They have wished me well and they are ready to receive me whenever I get well and return to the team.
“Playing at the World Cup was a fulfilled dream to me because I have always believed that the day I play against the like of Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria would be the highest point of my football carrier.
“Everything was okay for me because at my age, playing as the youngest player in the Nigerian team was a very big life achievement, which I would rely on to do well in my future career for both my club and the national team. It was so amazing, I prayed for this and God answered me.”
“I would like to say a big thank you to President Jonathan, the Minister of Sports and the leadership of the NFF for standing by me during my injury at the World Cup group match against Argentina. With the type of support I have received so far from the government and Nigerians, I cannot do but promise to give my best to the Super Eagles whenever I am called up to represent my country.
“I was filled with joy when Big Boss told me that I would start the match against Bosnia because I never thought I would make the World Cup team, let alone making the starting list. But, I know I worked very hard during training and I am still a young boy that has just started in the game.
“I wanted to use my surprise inclusion to the Super Eagles World Cup squad to prove that I rightly deserved a place in the team and I thank God that I was able to make that despite the injury I sustained,” he noted.
FIFA can’t ask me to withdraw case — Mrs. Baribote
…Gives condition for withdrawal of case
The Chairman of Nembe City FC, Mrs. Ebiakpo Rumson Baribote, has vowed to defy the directives of the world football governing body, FIFA, to discontinue the litigation that removed the Alhaji Aminu Maigari-led Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) from office.
FIFA had on Wednesday suspended Nigerian from all football-related activities until the withdrawal of the case at the Jos High Court, which restrained the football federation, the board and the congress from controlling, commanding or managing the affairs of the game in the country and ordered the Maigari board be reinstated.
However, reacting to FIFA ruling in a chat with Daily Sunsports, Mrs. Baribote insisted that the world football ruling body cannot stampede her into withdrawing the case, adding that the only thing that could make her act in the contrary would be an appeal from the Federal Government.
Speaking through her husband, Chief Victor Rumson Baribote, in Abuja, she maintained that FIFA ought to be proud of her action of taking a legal option to correct the anomalies bedevilling Nigerian football, expressing optimism that she has no iota of doubt of getting a favourable judgement.
“My wife called me yesterday morning to inform me that she was not ready to withdraw the case despite the directive from FIFA. She said FIFA should rather commend her for taking the pain to correct the anomalies going on in Nigerian football administration,” he said.
Giving condition for her withdrawal of the case, he added: “She equally told me that the only thing that can make her withdraw the case would be on national interest.”
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Babatunde undergoes surgery in Abuja |
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