Delta government faults protest by Warri Wolves’ players

They were instigated, says club official
Officials of Delta State Sports Commission have faulted players of Warri Wolves on their protest on Wednesday over non-payment of salaries.

The players had boycotted training on Wednesday ahead of tomorrow’s Glo Premier League tie against title rivals, Sunshine Stars, insisting on payment of their salaries. But the Director General of Delta Sports Commission, Victor Onogagamue, told The Guardian yesterday that the protest was uncalled for.

There was no reason for the players to embark on such protest knowing full well that the Governor has approved money for their salaries,” Onogagamue said. “We got approval for the money and by Wednesday, the money was already in Warri Wolves account. The players are fully aware. We were shocked to hear that they were protesting. They even refused to train despite pleas from some officials of the club. That is not good for them,” Onogagamue said.

Also speaking with The Guardian yesterday, an official of the club, who pleaded anonymity, alleged that the players were instigated by someone to stage the protest just to ‘embarrass’ the state government.

What was the reason for such protest when we had already told them that money had been released for payment of their salaries? On Tuesday, we were told that the money had been approved. To hasten the release of fund for the club, the governor personally wrote on the file ‘urgent.’ By Wednesday, the money was sent into the club’s account. The players were aware of everything. We are suspecting the hand of an outsider in this protest. They instigated the players to do it,” the official said.

Asked if the players’ sign on fees had been paid, the official said: “We all know the situation of things in the country at the moment. There are some clubs that have not paid their players for 11 months. What they told us from the Sports Commission is that after the payment of all outstanding salaries, the players’ sign on fees will follow. We pleaded with them (players) to see reason with the government on the issue of sign on fees because the problem did not just start today. We have a crucial match against Sunshine Stars on Saturday and we have to make sure the players have are in the right frame of mind to handle it,” he stated.

Majority of clubs in the Nigerian Premier League have struggled to pay their players’ salaries this season.
Before Wednesday’s protest by Warri Wolves, it was learnt that players of Dolphins and Sharks of Port Harcourt boycotted training over the non-payment of salaries. Players of Taraba FC are said to be without salaries for a period of 11 months now.