IBADAN – Coach Kadiri Ikhana of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) on Sunday said his players have not been paid their salaries and allowances in the past five months.
Ikhana made this disclosure to newsmen in Ibadan after his team defeated Giwa Football Club of Jos 2-1 in a week five game of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
“The unimpressive state of welfare of the players in the last five months has been a great concern to me, especially as such a situation can hinder better performances,’’ he said.
The coach said the worst part of it all was that there was no news on the payment of the outstanding wages.
Speaking on the match, Ikhana described it as a keen game, saying the club was however yet to have a team it could be proud of.
“For now, we do not have a team. But we are working very hard on this.
“We have most of our players down. All I am seeing here is problems in the team. I appreciate this though, and we are tackling it,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 3SC scored in the game through Uzu Joseph and Kabir Umar in the second and 86th minutes respectively.
They have played four matches so far, out of which they won two and lost two.
Giwa FC got their lone goal in the 90th minute through Isiaka Olawale, while Aminu Mbai of the same club was sent off, after receiving two yellow cards.
Meanwhile, coach Gbenga Ogunbote of Giwa FC described the defeat as a painful one his club did not deserve.
He said his players were just unlucky not to have scored goals from the several goal scoring chances they had.
“I was very confident that my team was capable of springing surprises here in Ibadan.
“But we all knew it was a good contest. No one can compare the Giwa FC which came to Ibadan last year with this team of today in
Ibadan. I hope many people can see the difference,” the coach said.
Ogunbote however said his club was very much desperate to pick a ticket to play on the continent this season, and the season was still young for anyone to write them off.
NAN reports that 3SC would be visiting Enyimba International FC of Aba on Wednesday to play their outstanding match, which was postponed due to Enyimba’s continental engagement.
The club would also visit Nasarawa United for their week six match on March 13 and host Rivers United in Ibadan on March 19.(NAN)
