PICTURE: Japanese surgeon flying to Brazil with $200,000 cash for Dream Team

PICTURE: Japanese surgeon flying to Brazil with $200,000 cash for Dream Team

A benefactor is flying to Rio to hand $200,000 (£153,500) to the Nigerian Olympic team, in addition to his promise to pay a $30,000 (£23,000) bonus to each player if they win gold.

Japanese plastic surgeon Katsuya Takasu wants to reward the team after hearing about their financial difficulties.

He will pay them $20,000 (£15,350) for silver and $10,000 (£7,680) for bronze.

Takasu told BBC Sport the $200,000 “is a special donation” and “it is better to deliver it to the team personally”.

The 1996 Olympic champions only landed in Brazil just hours before their opening 5-4 win over Japan.

 

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Nigeria had a troubled build-up to their 2-0 quarter-final victory against Denmark in Salvador last weekend – the players boycotted a training session in a dispute over pay.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are impressed by Takasu’s offers but are being careful.

“I have been in direct contact with Mr Takasu and impressed by his gesture,” NFF vice-president Seyi Akinwunmi told BBC Sport.

“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.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Olympic team have now received their camp allowances from the government, according to the team’s media officer Timi Ebikagboro.

“The sports ministry has cleared all camp allowances of the team in Brazil.

“Players and officials have now been paid 22 days allowances,” said Ebikagboro.

 

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