Sacked players battle Shooting Stars over unpaid salaries

   

   The 20 players sacked by Shooting Stars have said they will  report the club to the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers over the failure of the outfit to pay their two months’ salaries. The Ibadan  club in October sacked 20 players and retained 20 after they were relegated  from the Premier League to  the Nigeria National League at the end of last  season.  Wasiu Jimoh, Junior Merenini, Suraju Sadiq, Abu Azeez and Tolulope Olaifa are among the players fired by 3SC. Our correspondent learnt that the club allegedly  paid the salaries of the  players retained  while they did not pay those  they  sacked.

    One of the players, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “It was surprising when we heard that the  players retained  were paid their two months’ salaries while we were left out of the payment. “Shooting Stars  are owing  us  July and August salaries and we expected that the money would come along with those who have been paid but that didn’t happen. We contacted the team manager and some other officials of the club about our salaries but we were told to wait. “Our fear is that we might not get our money from the club. We have told them that we will report the matter to the players’ union and we expect the union to assist us.” However, the Secretary-General for the players’ body, Austin Popo, told our correspondent that NANPF had yet to receive any complaints from the players.

  

   “We have already told all players  who were not paid after being sacked by their  clubs to come to us with  their  contract details. We will ensure that they get their entitlements. The clubs have to pay them after sacking  them,” he said.  However, spokesman for  Shooting Stars, Jubril Arowolo, told our correspondent on the telephone that the players would be paid. He said, “We acknowledge that we  are owing  the players but they will be paid when money is  available. The players are being paid in batches and I can confirm that some of the sacked players were paid for a month before they were asked to leave. “Not all of them are being  owed two months’ salaries but those who have not been  paid will be paid as money  comes in.”