The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Toye Arulogun, has said government is looking for means of paying part of the money owed players of the Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan after the club recently went on strike.
After beating Rangers 2-1 in Ibadan to brighten their chances of escaping relegation two weeks ago, the players refused to train ahead of their next match, which they eventually lost 1-0 to Warri Wolves. They claimed that the state government had not paid their five months salaries and several allowances and bonuses owed them.
Reacting to the players’ plight on Tuesday during a press conference, Arulogun said the state government’s poor financial position had affected all sectors, stating that the way out of the club’s problem was to privatise it while government retained part of the shares.
He said, “3SC’s present problem is not limited to the club because the same thing is happening in the state’s civil service. We all know the reasons why the government is unable to pay workers.
“Shooting Stars are part of the government, it is an institution of government and the reasons are obvious why the club are facing financial problems. If the players have not received their salaries, they are not different (from other workers). The path to recovery is gradual. It’s a common problem all over Nigeria. When things improve, the situation will be different but government has paid considerable attention to the club. Government is making efforts to defray some of the debt owed the players.”
The commissioner said it was not true that the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, had no interest in the club, noting that he recently visited the players during a training session and even watched one of their home matches.
“Even with the present poor economic situation, government has paid attention to the club. Governor Ajimobi has attended their training and watched their match against Sunshine. He even gave them N2m that day and ordered that the gate takings should always be used to pay the players’ allowances,” he added.
credit: punchng
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