Courtney Dike refuses Nigeria’s $7,000 world cup Bonus, so what?

By Amos Joseph
Facts have shown that players request or riot over unpaid allowances is more rampant among African nations as clearly exhibited during the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup. This show of shame tells the world how football is being administered in this part of the world when it comes to remuneration which could either be allowances or tournament reward.

Ghana, Cameroun and Nigeria were at the fore of this dismal show as players held their national teams to ransom while in competition mood, which however cannot be extricated from the performance of the team at that time.

 

Courtney Dike

How money can be a huge distraction.

When the news broke that a player who represented Nigeria at this year’s FIFA Under 20 Women’s World Cup turned down the monetary reward offered her by the Nigerian Football Federation, it quickly spread like a conflagration owing to its oddity.

Simply put, we are not used to this kind of news when it comes to sports in Nigeria. Courtney Dike was born and bred in the United States of America, plays for Oklahoma State Football Team, she preferred to represent fatherland for ‘’patriotism sake’’ since she refused the $7,000 World Cup bonus handed her which sent shock down our spines.

Courtney told the Nigerian officials who called her that playing for Nigeria was enough, and that she prides over monetary reward. What a mentality you may want to say. But please don’t forget where she is coming from.

For arising as a compatriot and heeding to Nigeria’s call, she and her family deserve all the plaudits they are getting right now, it is an uncommon act that will send a message around the world of how a Nigerian can damn the ‘’papers’’ all in the name of patriotism. (Nigeria’s national anthem capture the story of her action)

Courtney Dike

Bringing this home, how many of our players (Women, Men including foreign based) can show such bravery when it comes to matters such as this? Please try not to count because you may just find no one. The reason is not farfetched as our players receive peanuts as salaries which come in trickles, save for a few clubs.

How can bread winners of families have their ‘’bread’’ held by their employers an yet expect them to give their best? How can players who are being owed for several months afford to take care of their family, and then reject monetary rewards when they come to the national team? How can players Travel for most part of the year by road in a bid to represent their clubs in the league almost every week? The questions are endless….

Based on these numerous questions demanding answers, it could however be said that Courtney Dike’s perception has been greatly influenced by the values she has been inculcated with while growing up. The economic situations are not at par and this send a message to our leaders and administrators

It is crystal clear that the society where Courtney was brought up has left us behind and we are playing catch up, that’s if we can.

All pictures in this report are from Google.