Nigerian Paralympics Coach, Are, Begs FG to Reward Athletes

Nigerian Paralympics Coach, Are, Begs FG to Reward Athletes

After their triumphal return from the Rio 2016 Paralympics, the head coach of the Nigeria Para-Powerlifting Federation (NPPF), Feyisetan Are, has called on government to reward the all-conquering Paralympians so as to stop them from begging, Vanguard reports.

Team Nigeria swept a total of 12 medals at Rio – 8 Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals to finish 17th out of the 160 countries that participated in the Rio Paralympics, of which only 83 won medals. The Nigerian Paralympics team also finished first on the African medals table during the two-week event that saw them shatter six world records.

Speaking to newsmen on Monday after they returned to fanfare, a proud Are called on government to do the needful.

“What else can we ask other than for the government to reward these athletes well so as to stop them from begging,” he said.

“What we achieved was by the grace of God and the teeth-gritted determination of the athletes. They gave their all to lift the image of the country. It is the turn of the country to honour them.”

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, congratulated the Paralympians on their enormous achievement in Rio, stating that the country was indeed proud of them.