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Celebrated Japanese plastic surgeon, Katsuya Takasu, has promised $30,000 bonus to each member of Nigeria’s Dream Team should they win gold at the ongoing Rio 2016 Olympics.
This comes ahead of the team’s semi-final clash with Germany tomorrow in Sao Paolo.
He also announced his desire to reward the 1996 Olympic football champions, along with $20,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze after hearing about their financial woes.
He told BBC Sport:
“I read about the financial problems affecting the team and I felt the need to make a big contribution,” Takasu told BBC Sport.
“I am not doing this for media attention but to motivate a team with an indomitable spirit. I fell in love with the Nigerian team because despite all these problems they are in the quarter-finals of the Olympics.
“Whether they win or not, I will still donate something to help alleviate the challenges in paying their bonuses and allowances.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) vice-president, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi however thinks the promise should be treated with caution.
He told BBC Sport:
“I have been in direct contact with Mr Takasu and impressed by his gesture.
“But we need not get carried away because the integrity of the country is at stake.
“First we must check about this. Significantly, the team has an important game and we need to focus on that.”