Former Super Eagles midfielder Duke Udi has revealed why he was left out of the Dream Team to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, USA.
Udi said he was omitted from the squad by technical adviser Bonfrere Jo for refusing a a loan move to Slovakian side from his then club, Grasshoppers in the Swiss top flight.
The former 3SC player made this revelation, speaking on Tuesday’s edition Brila Fm’s “No Holds Barred” with former Super Eagles left back Ifeanyi Udeze.
The 44-year-old, who was regarded as one of the most gifted midfielders of his generation, joined Grasshoppers in 1995 after helping 3SC win the Nigerian Premier League.
Udi however managed to make just five appearances in the league in twelve months and became surplus to requirement, before he was placed on the loan list.
He said : “Jo Bonfrere got me the Grasshoppers deal. But apparently, 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, he could do that to me, ” He concluded.
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