SAF says Nigeria friendly is all about the cash

Money, money, money
By Chris,
July 26 2008

In a shocking admission, Sir Alex Ferguson has confessed that the primary motive behind United’s bizarre friendly match in Nigeria is money. Of course, we all knew that already – but to hear the Scotsman ‘fess up’ and admit that the squad are being put through an unnecessary ninety minutes against Portsmouth purely for extra cash is deplorable.

In terms of business, it makes sense for United to play against Portsmouth in Nigeria on July 27^th.

The club are picking up a whopping £1.5million for their one-match jaunt to the African republic.

However, football is about a lot more than business and Fergie's admission that the club will contest two fixtures, 3,000-miles apart within 24 hours for financial gain is another sad advert for the way the club is currently being run.

Sir Alex said: "We have never been to Nigeria, but it was just an opportunity,"

"You could say that it is partly financial, of course. We have to take into consideration these financial invitations because we have a big operation now."

United have suffered in the past from gruelling pre-season schedules - and the unnecessary stop-off in Nigeria certainly won't help the squad properly prepare for the new season.

Our 24-man squad will in Abuja less than 24-hours after battling it out with the Kaizer Chiefs. Fergie is expected to mix his squad up for both fixtures - thus playing ‘half-strength' starting XIs in both matches. Organisers of the Vodacom Challenge Cup and fans of the Chiefs should be fuming - with United prepared to be under-strength in South Africa for the sake of a pay-day in the mid-west of the continent.

Whilst the Vodacom Challenge Cup is hardly a priority, it's at least an established competition and there's silverware on the line against ambitious opposition who will be desperate to beat United and repeat their heroics from 2006.

In contrast, neither Portsmouth nor United have any desire to play this game in Nigeria. The players won't be bothered - and the fixture has been organised purely to rip-off fans in Nigeria, who are promised a glimpse of the "heroes", and to extract cash from television and radio companies across Africa.

I feel very sorry for the fans in Nigeria who are travelling from all corners of the country for the game. Hopefully the players can at least put on some sort of show.

We will, of course, be offering fans report and reaction from the game in Nigeria - but it's a fixture that shouldn't be happening as it's a game based on greed and greed alone.