Atlanta ’96 Olympics Gold my biggest career achievement in football – Ex- Eagles Coach
Dutch coach, Johannes Bonfrere has labelled Nigeria U23 Dream Team 1 shock victory in the men’s football event of the1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, as his greatest achievement in his football career.
24 years ago, precisely on August 3, 1996, Emmanuel Amuneke flicked home from a free kick as the West African nation became the first African team to win gold medal in the Olympics football event.
And the man who guided the winning Dream Team 1 side, Bonfrere, looks back with pride how it all happened.
“Yeah, that was my biggest achievement in my career”, Bonfrere responded from his Netherlands home when Orient Sports called him up.
“We played as a team, on and off the pitch. And that’s the strong point of a good team like Nigeria, a great nation with good players.
“Nigeria is blessed with fantastic talents, players with strong mentality and always ready to work for success.
“With the quality players that Nigeria has, every coach would want to work here and make success.
“Yeah, I still remember the moment in Atlanta, it is still fresh in my head, not minding it’s already 24 years gone.
“We put Africa on the strong football point in the World, beat two World strongest football power, Brazil and Argentina.
“In the semifinal with Brazil, we went down 1-0 in the first half from Brazil free kick. But in the second half, the will to win was high my players.
“Our mentality was high and the goals started coming.
“In the final, by my understanding, Argentina was not as strong as Brazil. They were more physical and aggressive unlike a technical Brazil.
“It was great for us to win the gold and Nigeria became Champions of the World in the Olympics football”.
Bonfrere remembers the heroic welcome his wife and daughter gave him on return to the the Netherlands after the monumental success at the Atlanta Olympic Games.
“Sure, my family were following the games, our progress at the Olympic Games. They were happy and we’re at the airport in Amsterdam waiting for me.
“They were at the airport with a car. After the immigration protocol, I was running at the airport before my wife and daughter saw me and we drove off”.
Despite the fond memories of the Atlanta Olympic Games, Bonfrere appears clearly a sad man.
And he’s in no mood to hide his feeling of disappointment and frustration.
“But unfortunately, I’ve not received my (gold) medal till date”, he said as his voice went shrink.
“It’s 24 years and I don’t have my medal or anything to show for our effort, our victory and it’s a shame.
“Even Patrick Paschal has also not received. Also, the land promised us by Lagos State Government at Lekki has not been given to me till now, as well as Paschal too.
“I’ve written severally to successive Lagos State Governments for them to locate my own land, nothing has come out of it.
“Others have gotten theirs but I don’t. It’s a big shame, I hope they give me mine”.
The Dutch tactician recalls how he almost won the Nations Cup for the Super Eagles in 2000.
Bonfrere said he would have been a proud AFCON gold medalist if not for the disallowed (penalty) goal by the referee.
“After the Olympic Games in 1996, I returned home to Amsterdam, Netherlands.
“In 1998 or so, the Nigeria (Football) federation called to come. They said the AFCON is coming up and that the Super Eagles are in the group with Tunisia and Morocco.
“They were afraid Eagles may not qualify from the group. So, we prepared, beat Tunisia, beat Morocco and finished top in the group.
“In the final with Cameroon, we would have won the goal if not for the ‘stupid goal’ the referee said was not a goal but the linesman said was a goal”.
