NIVASHNI NAIR
AFTER being hammered by the Nigerian media for booking its national team into a “dump” for the World Cup, the Nigerian Football Federation has been given an unfenced, roadside hotel in a seaside town until the end of the month to shape up.
After months of standing up for Hampshire Hotel in the KwaZulu-Natal resort town of Ballito against Nigerian media reports which claimed that the “sub standard, disgusting” hotel did not befit the Super Eagles, the federation’s president, Abdullah Sani Lulu, was forced to admit that the 107-room establishment may not be the most suitable base for the team.
At a press conference in Lagos two weeks ago, he said the hotel’s management was given an ultimatum to “put things right”.
Federation spokesman Ademola Olajire yesterday told The Times they will ditch the newly-built hotel if it was not up to scratch by the end of the month.
He said there were “security issues” that needed to be resolved.
“The hotel management promised all would have been sorted by mid-April. We have a final inspection by the end of the month to take a final decision. Our second choice is an establishment in Richard’s Bay,” he said.
Hotel general manager Rodney Bull yesterday did not want to discuss problems the Nigerians had with the establishment, and was adamant they were resolved.
He said “absolutely, without a doubt” the Super Eagles will be staying there.
“There were one or two minor things. I have since informed them that we have done as they requested and that we are ready for the inspection,” he said.
While the Nigerian Football Federation cited security concerns as the main issue, the hotel was lashed by the Nigerian media for other reasons too.
Next, a Nigerian news website, sent journalists to inspect the more than R3000-a-night establishment which opened its doors last month and was still under construction at the time the football federation inspected it.
Nigerian journalists were “shocked” to discover the Super Eagles would have to share the “small” pool and “average” gym with other hotel guests.
“Share the pool with guests? Other guests in a camp for players competing in the World Cup?” wrote Next reporter Kayode Thomas.
Next also raised concerns that South African police would not apply enough force to keep out fans from a hotel with “porous security” and no visible guards.
“Ballito is 40 minutes away from Durban with the highest population of Nigerians in South Africa, so who will stop fans from invading the hotels?” Thomas asked.
The Nigerian media also accused its football federation of allowing the Super Eagles to become “last among equals” as it compared hotels in which the teams in its group will stay.
Argentina is booked at the elite University of Pretoria’s High Performance Centre and Greece will stay at the Beverley Hills Hotel in Durban.
Source: The Times
Publisher: I-Net Bridge
Source: I-Net Bridge
