Nigerians in Austria Decry Harassment Of Super Falcons – Support National Team Players
Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
The Nigerians In Diaspora Organisation in Austria have condemned in strong terms a recent incident involving a heckler and players of the women’s national team, the Super Falcons.
In a widely circulated video earlier this week, a man claiming to be a Nigerian and a former player of Julius Berger launched an unprovoked tirade at the ladies on a train as they took a break from training to see the sights of Vienna, Austria.
The man, whose face did not appear in the six-minute video, accused the Nigerian ladies of representing a ‘terrorist government’ that was ‘killing their people’ and continuously hurled insults at the players, who remained remarkably calm in the face of provocation.
In a communique issued by the group which was made available to The Drum Online Media.
THE NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA ORGANISATION AUSTRIA EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY WITH OUR NATIONAL LADIES FOOTBALLERS CURRENTLY IN AUSTRIA AND CONDEMN THE MISGUIDED ATTEMPT TO HARASS OR EMBARRASS THEM ON A TRAIN
We the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Austria, after deliberation over the video of a fellow who boarded a train on which the Falcon players were travelling, to harass and embarrass them, wish to hereby state as follows:
1. That we are happy to learn that the Falcon players chose Austria for their summer camp this year and we would have been too happy to welcome them if we had known they were coming to Austria.
2. That the Falcon players cannot be held responsible for the current predicaments of Nigeria, in fact our young athletes have remained amongst the last bastions of hope that hold us together and a remaining source of pride to a nation suffering from numerous anomalies.
3. That harassing our athletes on a train is misguided, though he may not have attempted to physically assault any of them, this action of verbal harassment would not solve any problems in Nigeria. This action infringes on their rights to dignity as guaranteed by the Austrian laws.
4. That though the Austria laws guarantee freedom to protest and demonstrations, there are procedures that must be followed and this right is not a blanket provision to harass innocent and private individuals. In fact, there are many, better ways and methods to express one’s displeasure with the state of the Nigeria nation.
5. That our deprived youths who have continued to make their contributions despite all hardships and deprivations should be encouraged and supported, and not maligned.
6. That we see no problem with the Falcons taking public transportation, which are normally very comfortable and safe, to get a feel of how people live in Vienna.
7. That we are appalled over the actions of the fellow, no matter his motivations and do hereby dissociate ourselves from his misguided action and condemn it. This action is not representative of the Nigeria community in Austria. We consider this action disturbing and unacceptable and regret the incidence took place in our otherwise peaceful and progress loving community.
We hope that despite this unfortunate incidence, the Falcons are enjoying themselves in Austria and their preparations for their coming tournament are progressing unaffected. We stand by them and wish them success in the coming tournament and may they surge higher and higher in their bid to do us proud.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Europe – Austria Chapter.
Signed by signed by Subrinah Joy Dolischka and Deji Adeyemo and copied to the Nigerian Embassy in Vienna.
