By Akinwale Kasali
It was unexpected and dramatic .An unknown Nigerian joined the Super Falcons on the train at Vienna, lashing and abusing them for representing Nigeria.
The yet to be identified young man slammed the players, called them failed and irresponsible youths for representing the President Muhammadu Buhari-led nation.
The nine –time African champions had arrived in the Austrian capital, Vienna, for an 8-day training camp preparatory to the Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Football Tournament.
In a video that went viral, the angry and self acclaimed frustrated man accused the thoroughly frightened abs embarrassed players of representing a ‘terrorist organization’.
He said: “I want to speak to you people please. I am also a Nigerian and live in Vienna. I have lived here for so many years and you people are representing a terrorist organization, a terrorist government. You Nigerian youths should be very ashamed of yourselves, every one of you here.
“This can’t happen in another country where youths are representing a government. There are over 10 million Nigerian youths here and you people that should know are representing a terrorist organization, killing youths, kidnapping. I am calling on you idiots to go back home,” he stated.
However, when some of the players attempted to fight back, he further threatened to invite the police if he was physically attacked by the squad, saying the corruption in Nigeria forced him to leave Julius Berger football club that he once played for in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, as series of questions are being asked about the level of security arranged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the Super Falcons in Austria, the Football Federation yesterday issued a statement saying it has “initiated moves to ensure the unmasking of the self-acclaimed Nigerian who got on the train and made the players uncomfortable with inflammatory political talks.
According to Nigeria’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon, the matter has been immediately reported to the Austrian Police and the Embassy of Nigeria.
Pachon told thenff.com, “It is unfortunate. The girls were on the way to the city centre which was just a few minutes from the hotel. They entered this train and the guy got inside and started insulting them. He was bundled out at the next station and we have reported the matter to the Embassy of Nigeria and the Austrian Police. We have never had this kind of case with any of our teams and lessons have been learnt and we will be guided appropriately going forward.
“This incident will not in any way affect the team’s camping programme and they will remain in Austria until Saturday, 24th July as scheduled.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation says it has initiated moves to ensure “the unmasking of the self-acclaimed Nigerian who got on the train with the Super Falcons in Vienna, Austria on Tuesday and made the players uncomfortable with inflammatory political talks.”
NFF president Amaju Pinnick said the NFF would immediately report the matter to world football body FIFA and would pursue the case to its logical conclusion.
“We are infuriated because these are young ladies who are our ambassadors and are there in Austria preparing for major international competitions. That was a dastardly act by that fellow and we are not taking it lightly. The girls simply wanted to go on sightseeing and there is nothing wrong with that. They do not deserve to be subjected to such diatribe by a so-called fellow Nigerian.
“We will unmask the fellow and then take it from there.”
