Former Super Eagles midfielder narrates why Bonfere Jo dropped him from Atlanta ’96 squad

Former Super Eagles midfielder narrates why Bonfere Jo dropped him from Atlanta ’96 squad

Babajide Orevba
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:48 PM

- Duke Udi played all qualifying matches ahead of the Atlanta 96 Olympic Games

- The sensational midfielder was however dropped from the squad that made the Dream Team

- Duke Udi has stated that Coach Bonfrere Jo dropped him because he rejected a loan move to Slovakia

PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!

Former Nigerian international Duke Udi has narrated how he was dropped from the Dream Team squad that played at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996.

Bonfrere Jo-tutored side shocked the world winning gold medal in the football tournament defeating South American giants Brazil and Argentina in the semi-final and final respectively.

But Udi has stated that he was dropped from the squad because he rejected a loan move to a team in Slovakia, which upset the manager.

According to him, Bonfrere was instrumental in his securing a deal with Grasshoppers in Switzerland. He said via Complete Sports:

“The contract was different from the treatment I got at the club.
“When I met him (Bonfrere) again, he said he heard I had been unruly and that I also damaged the official car given to me, but it was all lies and I told him that.
“Down the line, I was asked to go out on loan, Bonfrere told me to accept the move to Slovakia, but I refused and opted to return home to 3SC.
”Bonfrere was angry and though I played all the qualifying matches and friendlies, He swore I wouldn’t make the 1996 Atalanta Olympics team.
“After the camp in Enugu ended and we got to Lagos where the list was announced, I was dropped. Bonfrere called me stupid for turning down the Slovakia move and just because he was such a vindictive person, he could do that to me.”
Former Super Eagles midfielder narrates why Bonfere Jo dropped him from Atlanta ’96 squad
Duke Udi remains upset with Bonfrere Jo. Photo: Chung Sung-Jun
Source: Getty Images

Meanwhile, Nigerian defender Taribo West, as well as Brazilian legend Ronaldo de Lima, joined Italian giants Inter Milan in 1997 where they became friends being part of an iconic squad.

Taribo had a remarkable two years at the club between 1997 and 1999 where he scored one goal in 44 appearances, but he made name for himself.

Despite being a defender, the former Super Eagles star became so fond of Brazilian star Ronaldo who won the Fifa Player of the Year Award back-to-back in 1996 and 1997.

Legit.ng earlier reported that Odion Ighalo was spotted in a gym sweating-it-out with the punching-bag in a bid to remain fit for his new club Al Shabab of Saudi Arabia.

The former Super Eagles striker completed his loan deal at Premier League giants Manchester United in February and left due to lack of active playing time.

Babajide is a digital publishing expert, an avid sports content thinker, researcher and writer. He is a graduate of Guidance and Counselling, having bagged his B.SC (ED) from the Ekiti State University. He can be reached on Twitter @JideOrevba

Authors
Babajide Orevba photo
Babajide Orevba
Babajide Orevba is a CAF accredited Nigerian journalist and HOD of the Local Desk with over 10 years of experience in media landscape.He studied NCE Political Science/Social Studies, AOCOED.
Tags
Nigeria